AEDP

Affective Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP): Psychotherapy for Profound Personal Growth and Healing

Affective Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on emotions and is specifically designed to help you heal from trauma and cope with overwhelming feelings that arise from life’s challenges. In AEDP, I will guide you in paying attention to your inner experiences and encourage you to fully experience and make meaning from your emotions. Our therapeutic relationship will play a crucial role, providing a safe and trusting environment for you to explore your experiences in order to facilitate healing.

How We Work in AEDP

Unlike traditional talk therapy, we won’t need multiple assessment sessions before we start our therapeutic work. From our very first session, we will collaborate on addressing the specific issue you want to change. AEDP goes beyond simply discussing the problem and also focuses on recognizing and reinforcing your strengths and positive aspects.

Recognizing Cultural Differences

I acknowledge and respect the cultural differences of each individual. Together, we will work to understand your unique background, culture, and beliefs. We will “map” your internal landscape, including your emotions, feelings, and beliefs, to help you develop a deeper understanding of your Core Self. This process also takes into account the larger context of community, culture, and the world, recognizing that your story is part of a larger narrative.

The Treatment and Its Focus

In AEDP our treatment focus is centered around discovering and strengthening your Core Self to facilitate healing. We firmly believe that individuals are inherently good and capable of overcoming life’s challenges. However, we recognize that without proper nurturing and validation of your innate worth, anxieties and shame can develop, leading to pain and suffering.

That’s why, in our sessions, I will work closely with you to address and explore your anxieties and shame. Together, we will delve into the underlying emotional beliefs that contribute to your pain and suffering. By understanding and uncovering these beliefs, we can begin to challenge and transform them, ultimately facilitating your healing process.

AEDP utilizes a “Four-State Transformational Process” that involves identifying distress symptoms, connecting with your Core Self, processing emotions, and finding meaning in painful experiences. Through each step of this process, I will closely track your moment-to-moment experience, creating a safe space where you feel supported and not alone. According to Diana Fosha, the founder of this therapeutic method, trauma is a result of being isolated during overwhelming emotional experiences, for that reason, I emphasize the importance of accompanying you through your pain to undo your sense of aloneness and facilitate transformation and healing.

What to Expect from AEDP

During our AEDP sessions, you can expect to experience a sense of safety and warmth as I work to gently approach the exploration of your internal experiences with curiosity and self-compassion, avoiding judgment. Periodically, I will check in with you to ensure we both feel we’re on the right path that feels somewhat courageous while not being too overwhelming. Given time, you should expect to gain clarity about your identity, purpose, and innate value in the world, experiencing personal growth, increased self-awareness, and a feeling of well-being.

As dawn broke over the tranquil village, the birds chirped their melodious tunes, signaling the start of a new day. Meanwhile, the mist gently lifted from the lush green meadows, revealing the vibrant colors of spring. Transitioning from the cool embrace of night to the warmth of the morning sun, the sleepy town gradually awakened to the promise of another day filled with possibilities.