My name is Jamie Kohanyi and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#83775) specializing in the treatment of women. I am also a graduate of Pacifica Graduate Institute’s Counseling Psychology program with an emphasis in Depth Psychotherapy. I am currently also pursuing a certificate in Jungian Psychology from the CG Jung Institute of Los Angeles.
From a Depth perspective, symptoms like anxiety or depression, addictions, or compulsive behaviors are expressing an unmet want or need that is often buried in the psyche. These unconscious longings reveal themselves in our dreams and images, but also through the unwanted symptoms that bring us to see a counselor. Part of the task of therapy is uncovering these hidden longings and discovering less destructive ways to meet these subconscious desires and become more whole.
Many significant events in people's lives that lead to upsetting symptoms happened before they had words or were so distressing, they couldn't be captured in language. Most of the people I work with realize they have been expressing themselves through eating disorders, addictions, and compulsive behaviors until therapy gave them a new way to talk about, tolerate, or transform their experience. With these limitations of language in mind, I have completed a certificate program in Expressive Arts Therapy for those who wish to incorporate the visual or performing arts in therapy. There is often a ritual element to our unwanted behaviors and many people can't imagine themselves without their symptoms as much as they would like to see themselves healed. For this strong sense of identification with our suffering, I completed a year-long certificate program focusing on the relationship between psychology, non-ordinary states (i.e. those found in prayer, psychedelic medicine, fasting, breath) and spirituality at The Institute of Transpersonal Psychology.
My individual, couples, and family sessions are informed by psychodynamic theories including object relations, self-psychology, and depth approaches. What all these approaches have in common is an understanding that though discovery/recovery of our wellbeing may be an individualized process, lasting personal transformation does not happen all by ourselves. Therefore, I am welcome close collaboration with all those in your healing community ranging from traditional and holistic medical practitioners to, dietitians, twelve-step sponsors, priests/pastors and other non-conventional forms of support.
When you come for your first session, we will meet for a comprehensive assessment. Once I have a fuller picture of your symptoms, together we can collaborate to design a course of treatment that best suits your needs.
Jamie Kohanyi M.A., LMFT #83775 2121 5th Ave Suite 214 San Diego, CA 92101 619.384.2996 (P)