Psychodynamic & Psychoanalytic Therapy

Depth therapy in Denver — for clients ready to understand themselves, not just hold things together.

Q: What is psychodynamic therapy?

Psychodynamic therapy is a depth-oriented approach to psychotherapy that works to understand the patterns underneath the symptoms — how early experiences, attachment patterns, and unconscious dynamics continue to shape how we think, feel, and relate as adults. The goal is deeper self-understanding alongside (not in place of) work with the symptoms themselves; outcomes vary by individual.

Q: How much does a session cost?

Individual sessions are $150 for 45 minutes. Couples sessions are $225. In Colorado the practice is self-pay; we provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. TRICARE patients are welcome on an out-of-network basis. A free 15-minute consultation by phone is available before committing.

Dr. Joanne Burgio, Ph.D., practices psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy with adults in her Cherry Creek office and via secure telehealth across Colorado. The work is open-ended, weekly, and focused on understanding the patterns underneath — the kind of therapy oriented toward understanding yourself, rather than short-term coping skills alone.

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Who psychodynamic therapy is for

It isn't the right fit for everyone. The clients who do best with it tend to share a few things.

People who've done short-term therapy before

You've done CBT, EMDR, or a structured intensive. It helped, but the patterns kept coming back. You're starting to suspect the issue is deeper than what a 12-week protocol can reach.

People who keep ending up in the same situation

The same kind of partner. The same conflicts at work. The same dynamics with family. Different cast, same play. You're starting to wonder what role you're playing that you can't see.

People carrying old material

Things from earlier life — childhood, family of origin, formative losses — that you've sort of dealt with, but that keep showing up under stress. The kind of material that EMDR alone often doesn't fully metabolize.

People who want to understand, not just feel better

Symptom relief matters, but you're after something more than that. You want to understand why you do what you do — and to actually change it. You're willing to sit with discomfort if it leads somewhere real.

People in stable-enough lives

Depth work assumes you have enough stability outside the room to do the work in it. If you're in an acute crisis — actively suicidal, in an unsafe relationship, in active addiction — psychodynamic therapy is the wrong first step. Crisis stabilization comes first.

People who can commit to weekly

This isn't bi-weekly, monthly, or as-needed work. The rhythm of weekly sessions is part of what makes depth work possible. If your schedule or budget can only support less frequent contact, a structured short-term approach may be a better fit.

What it looks like in practice

The first few sessions are about getting a sense of you — what you're working on, what's brought you in now, what you've tried before. I don't ask you to know what you want from therapy in advance; we figure that out together as the work develops.

After that, sessions are mostly unstructured. You bring what's on your mind. We pay attention to what shows up — what you talk about, what you avoid, what feelings surface, what the relationship between us starts to feel like. The patterns you live with outside the room tend to show up inside the room, which is part of what makes the work useful.

Psychodynamic work is open-ended; many clients engage in it over months of weekly sessions, with individual variation. When it's done, we decide together. I don't push to extend, and I don't push to terminate. The pace is yours.

Training and credentials

Why I do this kind of work, and the training behind it.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Wayne State University, 1983. Certificate from the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, 2009. Licensed psychologist in Colorado and Idaho, with 40+ years of continuous clinical practice. Recognized with 15+ "Best Of" awards across decades and U.S. Commerce Association Hall of Fame Inductee.

I trained in psychoanalytic theory because I wanted to do depth-oriented work that focuses on understanding the patterns underneath the symptom, not just managing the symptom itself. That orientation has shaped how I work with every client since — even when the presenting issue is something practical like anxiety or a relationship problem, the work goes underneath to the patterns producing it.

More about Dr. Burgio →

Practical details

Location

Cherry Creek office
8337 Cherry Creek N Drive, Suite 801
Denver, CO 80209

Or secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth from anywhere in Colorado.

Session length & fees

45-minute sessions, typically weekly
$150 individual session
$225 couples session
Colorado: self-pay; superbills provided for out-of-network reimbursement
TRICARE patients welcome (out-of-network)

Getting started

A free 15-minute consultation by phone is the right first step. We'll briefly discuss what's bringing you in, the logistics, and whether depth-oriented work is the right fit. No commitment.

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Common questions about psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a depth-oriented approach that works to understand the patterns underneath the symptoms — how early experiences, attachment patterns, and unconscious dynamics continue to shape how we think, feel, and relate as adults. The goal is deeper self-understanding alongside (not in place of) work with the symptoms themselves; outcomes vary by individual.

CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) is typically short-term, structured, and focused on changing specific thought patterns and behaviors. Psychodynamic therapy is longer-term, less protocol-based, and focused on understanding why those thought patterns and behaviors developed in the first place. Both can be effective; the right fit depends on what you're working on and what kind of change you're looking for.

Psychodynamic work is open-ended rather than time-limited. Psychodynamic work is open-ended; many clients continue weekly for a year or longer as the work develops. The published outcome literature on psychodynamic therapy describes effects that develop over months of consistent weekly work, with significant individual variation. This is depth-oriented therapy that asks for consistency and a willingness to sit with what's underneath.

Yes. Decades of outcome research show psychodynamic therapy is effective for depression, anxiety, personality difficulties, and relational issues — with effect sizes comparable to other established therapies, and with effects that often continue growing after treatment ends. It's one of the most-researched therapy modalities in clinical psychology.

They share the same theoretical foundation. Psychoanalysis classically meant 3-5 sessions per week on a couch; modern psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy is usually 1-2 weekly sessions face to face. Dr. Burgio trained in psychoanalytic theory (Certificate from the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, 2009) and integrates that depth orientation with the practical weekly session structure most clients want today.

Individual sessions are $150 for 45 minutes. Couples sessions are $225. In Colorado the practice is self-pay; we provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. TRICARE patients are welcome on an out-of-network basis. A free 15-minute consultation by phone is available before committing.