Do you offer a free consultation?

Yes. I invite every prospective patient (or their parent) to a complimentary 15-minute video or phone call, so we can see whether we’re a good fit.

How do I book that call?

Fill in the contact-form button at the top of the page to request a time, or call +1-916-776-6089. I’ll follow up within one business day to confirm.

Where are you located?

My office is in Midtown Sacramento at 801 Alhambra Blvd, Suite 4. I also work with clients anywhere in California via secure telehealth.

What is psychodynamic psychotherapy?

Psychodynamic work explores the patterns—often outside conscious awareness—that shape how we think, feel, and relate. By bringing those patterns into focus, we create space for insight, relief, and lasting change.

What happens in the first session?

We’ll talk about what brings you in, your history, and your hopes for therapy. The meeting also lets you get a felt sense of how I work so you can decide whether to continue.

How long will therapy take?

Every person’s process is different. Some clients come for a few months to work on a specific issue; others choose open-ended depth work. We’ll revisit goals together as therapy unfolds.

Who do you work with?

• Adults and kids (10+) • Men exploring masculinity • Individuals, couples, and families • People navigating gender identity, transition, or LGBTQIA+ experiences • Anyone facing grief, anxiety, depression, or existential questions

Do you provide letters for gender-affirming care?

Yes. I can provide letters of support for HRT or surgery in line with WPATH guidelines.

What is psychedelic-integration therapy?

Integration work helps you make meaning of altered-state experiences—whether from sanctioned clinical use or personal exploration—so insights translate into daily life. While I don’t provide or refer for illegal substances, I support clients in integrating those experiences thoughtfully and ethically.

Individual therapy – $150 Couples therapy – $250 Sliding-scale spots are occasionally available—please ask.

Do you take insurance?

I’m an out-of-network provider. If you have a PPO plan, you may be eligible for partial reimbursement. I’ll supply monthly superbills you can submit to your insurer.

What if I need to cancel?

Cancellations with at least 48 hours’ notice incur no fee. Late cancellations or no-shows are billed at the full session rate. (No charge for same-day health-related cancellations.)

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Everything we discuss stays between us, with a few safety-related legal exceptions that we’ll review in our first session.

Do you offer evening or weekend appointments?

Yes. I currently see patients only during evenings and weekends to support busy professionals and their kids. Let me know what you need, and I’ll do my best to accommodate.

What if I’m in crisis?

I’m not a 24-hour service. If you’re in immediate danger, call 988 (emotional support) or 911 (medical emergency), or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support from trained crisis counselors.

Looking for a therapist in california?

Jun 30

Written By Oliver Slate-Greene

Not all therapy is created equal. And not all therapists are trained to go where it hurts.

If you’re searching for a psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapist in Sacramento, you may already know: you’re not looking for someone to “fix” you.

You’re looking for someone who can help you understand yourself—deeply, symbolically, in layers.

- Someone who can hold complexity.
- Someone who won’t flinch when things get raw.

But how do you know who’s qualified? What should you be looking for?

Let’s break it down.

Look for Depth, Not Just Degrees

Many therapists have master’s degrees. Fewer have steeped themselves in analytic theory.

A strong psychodynamic clinician may not be a formally trained psychoanalyst, but they’ve often immersed themselves in depth psychology through ongoing education, supervision, personal therapy, and independent study.

Ask:

“Do you work from a psychodynamic or psychoanalytic perspective?”
“How do you think about the unconscious or early childhood dynamics in therapy?”
“What kind of influences shape your work?”

You’re looking for someone who doesn’t just reference theory, but works from it. Feels with it.

Expect a Focus on Process Over Protocol

If you’re used to therapy that feels like a checklist, this will feel different.

Psychodynamic work isn’t driven by worksheets or progress trackers. It’s about process. The slow emergence of meaning. The accumulation of insight over time.

If you’re seeking this kind of work in Sacramento, look for therapists who describe their practice in terms of curiosity, symbolism, emotional truth, or relational depth - not just goals and outcomes.

We’re not measuring your life in symptom reduction. We’re listening for what your life is trying to say.

The Right Therapist Doesn’t Promise to Make You Feel Better

At least not right away.

They help you feel more - which is different.

A good psychodynamic therapist will help you sit with discomfort, trace its lineage, and understand what it’s protecting. They won’t rush to soothe it. They won’t pathologize your pain. They’ll help you metabolize it.

That’s the difference between coping and healing.

Trust Your Gut - Then Ask Questions

Therapy is intimate work. If you don’t feel a sense of trust, safety, and curiosity in the first few sessions, speak up—or keep looking.

Ask yourself:

Do I feel emotionally safe here?
Am I being challenged in a way that feels respectful?
Is this therapist listening to what I say, but also what I don’t say?

You don’t have to know right away. But something in you will. And it’s okay to listen.

Looking for a Psychodynamic Therapist in Sacramento?

I’m a psychodynamic psychotherapist based in Midtown Sacramento and available for telehealth throughout California. I’m also a psychoanalytic scholar - deeply immersed in the theory, literature, and clinical sensibility that shapes this work.

Oliver Slate-Greene