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.
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 unconscious. Part of the task of therapy is uncovering and addressing these hidden longings to release unwanted feelings and behaviors from their purpose.
In fact, many significant events in people's lives that lead to these deep yearnings often happened before they had words or go beyond the words they have. Many trauma and abuse survivors find expression through eating disorders, addiction/compulsion and self-harm until they learn a new way to talk about, tolerate, or transform their experience. With these limitations of language in mind, I have also completed a certificate program in Expressive Arts Therapy for those who wish to incorporate the arts in therapy.
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 healing may be an individualized process, lasting personal transformation does not happen all by ourselves. Therefore, I collaborate closely with psychiatrists, dietitians, specialists, 12 sponsors, and other professionals to provide you with a comprehensive outpatient treatment team.
Lastly, as a "first response" to symptomatic behavior, my frontline approach is informed by Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT).
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.