Ms Amanda Kottler

My therapeutic approach is relational, with Self Psychology and Intersubjectivity Theory as my primary clinical orientation. I believe in the significance of empathy as a way of, with my patients, making sense of how early caregiving relationships have shaped their sense of self and their emotional patterns of relating to others over time. I am particularly interested in how early experiences of being misunderstood, unsupported, or overlooked can shape the difficulties people repeat in adulthood. I see therapy as a collaborative process in which therapist and patient work together to make sense of a patient's emotional struggles as they arise. I try, in the process, to be as authentic, reflective, and as mindful as I can be of how my own experiences might enter and affect the therapeutic relationship. I use theory not to impose ideas and overshadow a patient’s lived experience but to support and deepen my understanding. My style is collaborative, respectful, and thoughtful, and my aim is to help patients develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their painful struggles in a way that feels safe, meaningful, and humane.