Psychoanalysis in Ajax

While many forms of therapy focus on solving specific problems or managing symptoms, psychoanalysis aims for deeper understanding and transformation. Think of it this way: cognitive-behavioral therapy might help you identify and challenge negative thoughts; psychoanalysis helps you understand where those thoughts came from, what purpose they serve, and how your entire way of experiencing yourself and others was constructed. It's not better or worse than other therapies—just different in scope and goals.

Psychoanalysis is typically longer-term work than other therapies. While some focused psychoanalytic therapy might last several months, many people engage in psychoanalytic work for a year or more. Traditional psychoanalysis often involves multiple sessions per week, but Gabriela works with clients to find a frequency that fits their needs and circumstances—this might be once weekly or more often depending on the depth of work you're pursuing.

The couch is optional! Classical psychoanalysis often uses a couch to help reduce distractions and facilitate free association, but modern psychoanalytic therapy is more flexible. Gabriela will work with you in whatever configuration feels most comfortable and productive—sitting face-to-face, using the couch, or even doing virtual sessions.

That's completely normal, and it doesn't prevent psychoanalytic work. You don't need detailed memories to explore patterns, understand your defenses, or work with your unconscious material. Dreams, current relationships, how you relate in therapy, emotional reactions, and even what you don't remember can all be meaningful. The work happens through understanding patterns in the present as much as recovering the past.

Yes, but the approach is different. Rather than treating anxiety or depression as standalone symptoms to eliminate, psychoanalysis explores what these experiences mean—what they might be communicating, what conflicts they represent, how they relate to your history and sense of self. Many people find that as they gain insight and work through underlying issues, symptoms naturally shift. However, if you need immediate crisis intervention or symptom management, a more focused approach might be appropriate initially.

Gabriela works with individuals, couples, and families. For couples work, she integrates psychoanalytic understanding with Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), which is specifically designed for relationship therapy. This combination allows her to address both the unconscious dynamics each partner brings to the relationship and the emotional patterns between them.

Gabriela is a Registered Social Worker, so her services are covered by most extended health insurance plans under social work or psychotherapy benefits. Check your specific plan for coverage details. We provide receipts that you can submit to your insurance provider.

That's a great question to explore in an initial consultation. Gabriela can talk with you about what you're hoping for from therapy, what you've tried before, and whether psychoanalytic work aligns with your goals. Not everyone needs or wants this depth of exploration, and that's completely fine. Gabriela will be honest with you about whether she thinks psychoanalysis is the best fit or if another approach might serve you better.

Gabriela offers both in-person sessions at our Ajax office and virtual sessions across Ontario. Many people find that depth work translates well to virtual sessions, though some prefer the contained space of in-person therapy. You can also combine both—perhaps starting virtually and transitioning to in-person, or doing mostly virtual with occasional in-person sessions.