Hi, I’m dr. val valdivieso.
My journey to becoming a psychologist began over 15 years ago, and has taken me across cultures and continents — from Canada to Ecuador, Chile, and the United States. My training in psychotherapy and psychological research has given me a wide lens through which to understand the human experience. During my doctoral studies at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, I worked with people from many walks of life, each with their own stories and struggles. What I discovered along the way was a deep passion for a kind of therapy rooted in understanding feelings and behaviors, and becoming curious about them — what is called psychodynamic therapy.
What is psychodynamic therapy?
—
What is psychodynamic therapy? —
Psychodynamic therapy is therapy for personal growth. We don’t just manage symptoms — we slow down, tune in, and look beneath the surface. We’re curious about the patterns, emotional habits, and beliefs that have shaped your life — often outside of conscious awareness — and how they may be steering you in a direction that no longer feels right.
It’s therapy to understand your emotions and it’s therapy to understand yourself — to make sense of what you feel and the inner forces that shape your day-to-day experience. This is long-term therapy — a process that unfolds over time, where you come to know yourself more fully and create not just relief, but real, lasting change.
We're passionate about this work because we so often meet people who have bounced from therapist to therapist, dipping in and out of short-term therapy, only to find themselves back where they started. Ask yourself: Am I getting to the root of the issue? If you're looking for a quick fix, we understand the appeal — feeling better fast is what most of us want. But if you’ve tried that path and found it doesn’t last, this may be the space you’ve been needing.
