I approach my work with clients/patients depending on the nature of the issues. I think that it is useful to differentiate according to the following general categories:

Some individuals have a particular symptom or problem that may be directly and relatively easily treated. Managing anger, difficulty communicating assertively, and some phobias are examples.  I may use cognitive (exploring and changing irrational thoughts about situations) and/or behavioral (exercise, increased socializing, etc) techniques to address these sort of issues.

Others are dealing with a more complex situation or relationship which requires exploration and analysis until it is understood and can be changed and improved in some way.  These may include conflict with coworkers, a significant other/spouse or with friends or one’s children.  Therapy is usually individual unless the issue is clearly interpersonal in which case some form of couple’s/marital counseling may be most appropriate.

Lastly, there are those who are seeking a deep understanding and shift in their personality that is leading them or keeping them on a path that is personally distressing.  This sort of work can be both very challenging and yet rewarding for the individual as well as myself. It is best to approach these issues from a more psychoanalytic/psychodynamic perspective by which we try to understand what unconscious wishes and conflicts have been leading and keeping someone in a life that is troubling and unsatisfying to them personally.  Dreams among other material may be explored, and the theories of Jacques Lacan may be useful to try to understand and change what perhaps has been intractable.

If you like, please see my Psychology Today site below for more information.

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/name/Randolph_D_Badler_PhD_San+Francisco_California_33841