The Process

Lacanian Psychoanalysis

If you are considering psychoanalysis and would like to learn more about whether this approach may be right for you, we invite you to contact us for an initial consultation.

Lacanian psychoanalysis is a form of talk therapy based on the work of Jacques Lacan. While it grows out of the tradition begun by Sigmund Freud, it has a distinct approach and style. If you have little or no background in psychology, the simplest way to understand it is this: it is a space where you come to speak freely, and where your own words become the guide to understanding what troubles you.

What Happens in Sessions?

You meet one-on-one with an analyst in a private setting. There is no worksheet, diagnosis checklist, or preset agenda. You are invited to speak about whatever comes to mind — current problems, memories, dreams, frustrations, relationships, even things that feel trivial or embarrassing.

The analyst listens carefully, not just to what you intend to say, but to slips of the tongue, repeated phrases, contradictions, jokes, and gaps. In Lacanian psychoanalysis, these details matter. They are clues to how your unconscious — the part of you that operates outside your full awareness — shapes your experiences and choices.

Unlike some therapies, the analyst does not usually give advice, reassurance, or step-by-step coping strategies. Instead, they may ask brief questions or make concise remarks that help you hear something new in what you’ve said. Often, insight comes not from being told what to think, but from recognizing patterns in your own speech.

These are variable length sessions. They end when the patient says something that opens up new possibilities of work, not on a revlation or when the timer runs out. 

Payment for sessions is determined by each patient, but generally the sessions are between $100-$250 each.

How Is This Different from Other Therapies?

Many therapies focus on symptom relief: reducing anxiety, improving mood, or changing behaviors. Lacanian analysis does care about suffering, but it approaches symptoms as meaningful. Rather than trying to eliminate them as quickly as possible, the work explores what purpose they may be serving in your life.

For example, anxiety, relationship conflicts, or recurring disappointments are not treated as random malfunctions. They are explored as part of a deeper personal story — one that may be structured by long-standing assumptions about love, authority, success, or self-worth.

How Long Does It Take?

There is no fixed timeline. Some people come for a specific period during a difficult time in their lives. Others choose to stay longer, using analysis as an ongoing process of self-exploration. Sessions are typically held once or several times per week, depending on your needs and goals.

In Lacanian practice, sessions may sometimes be shorter than the traditional 50-minute hour. The length is not rigid; it is determined by the logic of the session itself — often ending at a meaningful moment in the conversation.

What Is the Goal?

The goal is not to become “perfect” or to erase all discomfort. Rather, the aim is to help you understand your own patterns of desire, conflict, and repetition — and to find a different way of relating to them.

Over time, many people experience:

• Greater clarity about their relationships and choices

• Relief from repeating the same frustrating patterns

• A stronger sense of responsibility for their own desires

• A shift in how they experience anxiety or other symptoms

Who Is It For?

Lacanian psychoanalysis can be helpful if:

• You feel stuck in repeating situations

• You’re curious about why you react the way you do

• You want more than coping tools — you want understanding

• You are willing to speak openly and reflect on what you say

You do not need any prior knowledge of psychoanalysis. All that is required is a willingness to speak and to listen — especially to yourself.

If you’re considering beginning, the first step is an initial consultation where we can discuss what brings you in and whether this approach feels like the right fit for you.