Maxine Gower - Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis


 

SERVICES

Short term and long term psychotherapy & psychoanalysis.
In person in Boulder or By phone.

Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis

My work as a therapist and analyst for the past 17 years has involved freeing people from painful states of mind and distorted beliefs which cause suffering. Suffering can occur when defenses are habitually used and when one blames or devalues oneself for the outcome of defenses which no longer work. Taking the time to talk, so as to understand the underlying causes of one's suffering, requires careful exploration … like performing a delicate operation.  

When one develops awareness through being in a therapeutic relationship, there truly is hope. This is possible because a therapy is a process where one can talk freely so as to feel seen and heard, safe and understood. And, with this as a base, trust inevitably grows. More and more, one feels free to have and accept all of one's feelings. This is how new neural pathways are built in the brain (at any time of life) and how abiding change takes place.

Over time the psychotherapeutic or analytic process allows one to know oneself, to know what one wants and to freely choose what is most important for the full and meaningful life one deserves.

Dream Analysis

Dream analysis is central to psychoanalysis. It is the art of understanding how the unconscious speaks to one in the language of symbols. Some think that the symbols in dreams are universal. Though this may be part of what goes on in dreams, the school in which I am trained feels, that what is equally true, is that one also creates, borrows and uses symbols that emerge out of and are relevant to one’s particular life story.

The symbols in dream life both reveal and conceal feelings and thoughts. There can be good reasons for this. Dreams allow one to slowly recognize what it is that one might otherwise choose to ignore or deny. The indirect ways in which dreams “talk” to one helps to prepare the dreamer to integrate thoughts and feelings that might have been prohibited for some reason.

In order to understand dreams, the analyst needs to get to know the dreamer well enough to “read” the dreams accurately. Dream analysis takes place within a therapeutic relationship. Through the therapeutic relationship the analyst is able to gather enough information about the history and waking life of the dreamer, thereby allowing the analyst to understand and translate the symbols in dreams.

Psychotherapy with Adolescents (See more under Articles Menu)

I really enjoy working with teens. Because I connect well with teens I have a lot of success in helping parents to better understand their adolescent children as well as helping teens to understand themselves and work more cooperatively with their parents, peers and others.
The typical struggle for teenagers are separation/autonomy issues, self concept issues and fitting in and feeling accepted by peers. Teens feel a lot of relief when they can talk to an adult who allows them to have all of their feelings, who can tolerate their ambivalence and inconsistencies and who understands the teen experience in general.

When teens learn to identify feelings, are able to articulate how they are feeling at any given point and are able to make them selves understood, they develop a sense of agency and self esteem. These are the building blocks for advocating for oneself, for taking responsibility for ones’ thoughts, feelings and actions and for negotiating complex interactions in daily life.

Fertility Counseling (See more under Articles Menu)

De-stressing both mentally and physically has a lot to do with being able to get pregnant. Talking about the feelings that inevitably arise due to fertility issues and getting all the support that one needs as one goes through this demanding and challenging phase of life are ways to reduce stress.
When fertility treatments are successful one can move on and enjoy one's hard earned success. However, when treatments fail, one is faced with tough choices. Does one, or the couple, want to adopt, choose a donor egg or accept a life without children? These can be very tough and painful decisions.

Fertility counseling can be a good place to develop and exercise "one's voice" so as to say what it is that one feels, needs and desires. I have both experience and expertise in this area,  and can help with figuring out which decision is best for oneself or for the couple.

Separation / Divorce Counseling (See more under Articles Menu)

As a practitioner, I am experienced in working with people during all phases of divorce:

  1. The decision to divorce.
  2. Understanding and navigating the legal process, including knowing what your options are.
  3. Developing parenting plans.
  4. Recovering, repairing and refocusing after divorce.

Counseling for the Aged and their Caregivers (See under Articles Menu)

As we age, talking can be a very powerful tool. Feeling seen, heard, valued and understood can make an essential difference to an aging person. Coming to terms with losses of various sorts and the inevitability of death can feel like a relief and a release when talked about. Talking with someone can allay feelings of isolation and loneliness due loss of friends and family who are not longer around or available for contact.

As a mental health practitioner, with experience working with the elderly, their families and caretakers, I can help with psychotherapy, advocacy and case management. This includes working with people who have dementia and Alzheimer's disease, at home or in facilities.