Psychodynamic Therapy in NYC
Exploratory therapy from a NYPSI-fellowship-trained psychiatrist. Psychodynamic and gestalt approaches for trauma, anxiety, depression, and recurring life patterns. Part of Kennedy Psychiatric's psychotherapy practice in Midtown Manhattan.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nigel Kennedy, MBBS, PhD - Board-Certified Psychiatrist | 15+ Years Experience | Last Updated: April 2026
Your Psychodynamic Therapist: Dr. Nigel Kennedy, MBBS, PhD
- Board-Certified Psychiatrist (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology)
- Psychoanalytic Fellowship, NYPSI (New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute), Completed 2019
- MBBS from St George's, University of London; PhD in Neurogenetics from Imperial College London
- Licensed in New York and California
- Psychiatry Residency, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Physician-Scientist Track)
- Board-certified, providing integrated psychiatric treatment in psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy
Dr. Kennedy completed his Psychoanalytic Fellowship at NYPSI (New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute) in 2019, one of the most respected psychoanalytic training institutes in the country. This advanced training, combined with his psychiatric residency at Mount Sinai on the Physician-Scientist track, gives him deep expertise in psychodynamic and gestalt therapy grounded in both clinical rigor and neuroscientific understanding.
What Is Psychodynamic Therapy
Psychodynamic therapy is a form of exploratory therapy that helps patients understand the unconscious patterns, past experiences, and emotional conflicts that shape their present behavior and symptoms. Rather than focusing on specific skills (as CBT does), psychodynamic therapy examines the deeper causes of why symptoms developed in the first place.
The approach is based on the idea that much of what drives our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors happens outside of conscious awareness. By bringing these patterns into awareness, patients gain the ability to make different choices and respond to situations in new ways.
"Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a very powerful modality to allow patients to understand their 'mind in motion.' By understanding their journey through life to this point, it allows them to realize they may have encountered triggers for their depression that they had not previously considered. It gives them a greater understanding of who they are psychologically. This sense of agency and sense of control is hugely therapeutic."
His NYPSI fellowship training provides the foundation for this work, allowing him to map the trajectory of a patient's life and move from reactive symptom management to proactive self-understanding.
Conditions Treated with Psychodynamic Therapy
Trauma and PTSD
Psychodynamic therapy is one of Dr. Kennedy's primary approaches for PTSD treatment and trauma-related conditions. It helps patients process traumatic experiences, understand how trauma has shaped their emotional responses, and move from a place where trauma dominates their lives to a position of greater control and agency.
For trauma work, Dr. Kennedy builds trust before beginning any exploration of the traumatic event. Patients set the pace, and therapy progresses only as the patient feels safe. As he explains: "Patients need to feel that they have trust in their provider before they feel comfortable describing that trauma, and even getting to that first step may take some time."
For patients requiring intensive specialized therapy, the Kennedy Psychiatric includes associate therapists with deep expertise in trauma-focused psychodynamic work. These associates operate under Dr. Kennedy's direct clinical oversight, keeping therapy and any psychiatric treatment fully coordinated.
Anxiety
For patients with anxiety that has deeper roots in childhood, family dynamics, or past relationships, psychodynamic therapy helps uncover the triggers and patterns that drive the anxiety. Dr. Kennedy notes that through this modality, "by understanding what might be driving the anxiety, it allows patients to preempt a situation that is likely to be stressful by understanding the triggers of the past."
Depression
Depression linked to past experiences, losses, or relationship patterns responds well to psychodynamic therapy. The modality helps patients identify life events and psychological patterns that may be contributing to their depressive symptoms, often revealing factors they had not previously connected to their current state.
Dr. Kennedy also emphasizes the distinction between types of depression: "Trauma can often be something that presents with depression; however, depression related to trauma requires a different approach than depression related to major depressive disorder. In this practice, we always take a trauma-informed approach to patient care."
Executive Burnout
For professionals experiencing executive burnout, psychodynamic therapy helps patients evaluate their relationship with work, understand the deeper drivers of perfectionism or conflict avoidance, and develop the psychological resources to make meaningful changes.
Recurring Patterns
Some patients come to therapy not for a specific diagnosis but because they notice recurring patterns: choosing the same types of relationships, repeating the same conflicts at work, or feeling stuck in ways they cannot explain through surface-level reasoning. Psychodynamic therapy is specifically designed to address these patterns by identifying the unconscious "software" that governs behavior in high-stakes environments.
Gestalt Therapy
Dr. Kennedy's NYPSI fellowship and broader training encompass several related modalities that fall under the broader umbrella of exploratory therapy.
Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy focuses on present-moment awareness and emotional processing. It is particularly useful for patients who have difficulty identifying, expressing, or connecting with their emotions, often as a result of trauma or prolonged emotional suppression in high-pressure professional environments.
In practice, Gestalt therapy involves attention to what is happening in the moment during the session: what the patient is feeling, how they are expressing it (or not), and what patterns emerge in real time. This approach can be especially effective for patients whose emotional responses feel disconnected from their circumstances, helping them break through numbness and reconnect with authentic emotional signals.
Psychodynamic Therapy vs. CBT
Both psychodynamic therapy and CBT are evidence-based, but they work differently and are suited to different situations.
| Psychodynamic Therapy | CBT | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Root causes, unconscious patterns, past experiences | Specific thought patterns and behaviors |
| Structure | Exploratory, less structured | Highly structured, homework-based |
| Duration | Medium to long-term | Approximately 10 sessions |
| Best for | Trauma, recurring patterns, depression linked to past | Acute anxiety, specific phobias, insomnia, executive function skills |
| Outcome | Deep self-understanding, long-term shifts in relational patterns | Practical tools for managing symptoms in the moment |
"These are very different modalities, and each patient is different. Some may be better suited to one rather than the other."
He helps patients determine which approach, or combination of approaches, is the best fit during the initial evaluation. Some patients start with CBT to address acute symptoms and transition to psychodynamic therapy for deeper work. Others begin with psychodynamic therapy from the start.
To discuss which therapy approach may be right for you, call (929) 505-0504 or email appointments@kennedypsychiatric.com.
Combining Medication with Psychodynamic Therapy
Because Dr. Kennedy is a psychiatrist who provides both therapy and psychiatric treatment, patients receiving psychodynamic therapy can also have their medication managed by the same clinician. This coordination means that insights from therapy can inform medication decisions, and medication adjustments can support the therapeutic process.
For patients with PTSD, depression, or anxiety, combining medication with psychodynamic therapy often produces better outcomes than either alone. Dr. Kennedy may prescribe medication to address the most disabling symptoms while therapy works on the underlying causes. As patients gain tools and resilience through therapy, their need for medication may shift, and Dr. Kennedy monitors these changes closely as you work towards functional recovery. The medications he considers are selected after evaluation and based on each patient's specific needs; they are not a fixed list, as there is no one-size-fits-all treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychodynamic Therapy
What is the difference between CBT and psychodynamic therapy?
CBT is structured, short-term, and focused on changing specific thoughts and behaviors. Psychodynamic therapy is exploratory, examines past experiences and unconscious patterns, and typically continues over a longer period. Both are evidence-based. The choice depends on the patient's condition, goals, and preferences.
How long does psychodynamic therapy take?
This varies by patient and condition. Some patients benefit from a focused course of several months. Others, particularly those addressing deep-rooted patterns or complex trauma, may continue for a longer period. The duration is discussed during the initial evaluation and adjusted as therapy progresses.
Is psychodynamic therapy good for anxiety?
Yes, particularly for anxiety that has deeper roots in past experiences, family dynamics, or unconscious patterns. Psychodynamic therapy helps patients understand what triggers their anxiety and anticipate stressful situations before they escalate. For acute anxiety symptoms, CBT may be more appropriate as a starting point.
What happens in psychodynamic therapy sessions?
Sessions involve open-ended conversation guided by the therapist. Dr. Kennedy may explore past experiences, current relationships, emotional reactions, and patterns the patient may not have noticed. The goal is insight, awareness, and ultimately the ability to make different choices. There is no homework in the traditional CBT sense, but patients often notice that they begin processing thoughts and patterns between sessions.
What is gestalt therapy?
Gestalt therapy focuses on present-moment awareness and emotional processing. It helps patients connect with feelings they may have suppressed and understand their emotional responses in real time. Dr. Kennedy uses gestalt techniques as part of his broader psychodynamic and trauma-focused work.
Start Psychodynamic Therapy with Dr. Kennedy
Call (929) 505-0504 to speak with Dr. Kennedy about priority onboarding for psychodynamic therapy. He personally takes every initial call to understand your needs and determine the best approach.
Kennedy Psychiatric · 1350 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 252, New York, NY 10019
Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 9 PM
appointments@kennedypsychiatric.com
Request priority onboarding online
Complimentary consultation call. No commitment required.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Mental health conditions require individualized evaluation and treatment by a qualified healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.