My Philosophy — Asheville Analytic Thought, LLC

OVER THE LAST TWENTY FOUR YEARS I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE:

That psychoanalytic theory is the most complete, complex and nuanced theory available for understanding humans and society.

That psychoanalytic theory holds the potential for the most compassionate psychotherapeutic treatment of trauma available.
That the most impressive and skilled manifestations of psychoanalytic theory can be found when applied in the carefully crafted healing relationships developed with those who have been abused and neglected by our society’s systems.

In other words, I believe that the potential in psychoanalytic clinical practice is most brilliant and stunning in in its ADAPTATIONS.

Not in its PURITY.

But unalloyed— pure “Psychoanalysis” is not designed for the people I came here to serve. It breaks my heart to admit it, but it is simply and objectively true. Even the strongest believer in the pure model of Psychoanalysis (where one must attend at least three sessions per week) will admit that Psychoanalysis is an inappropriate treatment for many.

It has taken me a long time to properly separate psychoanalytic theory from “Psychoanalysis” proper in my own mind. Psychoanalytic theory, treatment and supervision has provided me with an incredible base to work with all types of people in a way that is transformative, sustainable and deeply meaningful.

But “Psychoanalysis” is not designed for most people and it is not designed for those I came here to help. To safely afford unalloyed Psychoanalysis one must be in the top 3%-5% of America’s wealthy. That also means that to become a Psychoanalyst one must be in the top 3%-5% of America’s wealthy. My values are not aligned with the pursuit of a credential that excludes so many humans.

FOR THIS REASON I WILL NOT BECOME A CERTIFIED PSYCHOANALYST

I am here to provide a middle ground. A place where we can think deeply about psychoanalytic theory without any pressure to keep striving for that which is unnecessary for our own professional and personal growth. I hope that many other skilled clinicians begin to provide the same middle ground. A place where new clinicians don’t feel out of their depth when exploring psychoanalytic theory and where experienced clinicians don’t feel pressured to give up a third of their salary to be considered “good enough”. A place where competition and a constant striving for theoretical purity is seen as the defense that it is.