Center for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Schedule an initial session
(773)-654-3322
Insight-oriented therapy for Andersonville and Greater Chicago
Meet our therapists
Douglas Medgyesi, Psy.D.
John C. Knapp, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
John is the founder of the Center for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. Prior to his doctoral research, he taught courses on Ethics, Social Justice, World Religions, and Holocaust Studies in his hometown of Fort Pierce, Florida. John worked as a clinician in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for 6 years in residential, partial hospitalization, and private practice settings before moving to Illinois. He has been in private practice since 2015.
Publications and Research:
John is the co-editor of the book, Psychology as the Discipline of Interiority: 'The Psychological Difference' in the work of Wolfgang Giegerich. He has lectured on topics related to psychology and the Holocaust, bringing aspects of post-Jungian therapy and analysis, i.e., the works of James Hillman and Wolfgang Giegerich, to bear on this subject matter. John is also very interested in the ways in which exploring dreams and fantasies can shed light on one's psychological experience . Clinically, John practices as a psychoanalytic relational therapist and draws upon psychoanalytic, Jungian, relational and various philosophical traditions to inform his work. Outside of his role as a therapist, John plays tennis and enjoys biking as well.
Contact: info@psychodynamicchicago.com
Phone: 773-654-3322
Clara Möller, Psy.D.
Psychology Resident
Clara received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. Prior to her doctoral training in clinical psychology, she received her Masters of Science by Research from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Her previous clinical experience includes working with diverse individuals, couples, and families across the life-span in various community mental health clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has experience supporting patients with identity development, emotion regulation, major life transitions, grief as well as attachment, intergenerational and childhood traumas.
In keeping up with current research, Clara endeavors to provide innovative and informed therapy techniques to her clients. Her training at the Wright Institute has helped her cultivate a practice of cultural humility, genuine curiosity, and social justice. She intentionally tries to create a therapy space that is warm, calm and inviting where the constant stream of noise in life can be turned down, and she can collaboratively work with her patients to reach their goals in therapy.
Clara has spent time living in Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, and England. Outside of work she enjoys spending time in nature, roller blading, reading, traveling and engaging in community events.
Contact: Clara.Moller.Psyd@gmail.com
Phone: 773-654-3322
Douglas Medgyesi, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Doug received his doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California. He has experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma, chronic mental illness, and other life challenges that can interfere with the ability to live authentically. Before returning to his hometown of Chicago, Doug completed a pre-doctoral internship training at the University of Arkansas where he used depth psychological approaches when working with young adults. His training included using dreams, imagination, and other creative psychodynamic modalities to explore unknown and unconscious factors contributing to emotional pain. His training background also emphasized advocacy for neurodiversity-affirming identity and includes work with children and adolescents with learning differences, unique neurology, developmental delays, and severe trauma.
Doug was inspired to become a clinical psychologist after working for close to a decade as a hospice chaplain. Through his work with families and individuals who were experiencing grief and bereavement, he developed a curiosity and reverence for healing within interpersonal relationships that valued presence over fixing and doing. His career as a chaplain also gave him insight into the psychological and emotional impact of religious trauma and the role suffering plays in both spirituality and creativity.
Research:
Doug's doctoral dissertation research investigated how numinous and extraordinary experiences hold the potential to transform how we understand self, others, and the world. Using a Jungian and psychodynamic approach, he is dedicated to bringing a sense of wonder and respect to all aspects of human experience.
Contact: Dr.Douglas.Medgyesi@gmail.com
Andrew Sarkisian, Psy.D.
Psychology Resident
Andrew received his doctorate in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. His previous clinical experience includes a wide range of settings (hospital, therapeutic day school, group practice, and community mental health) working with individuals across the lifespan. As a clinician, Andrew emphasizes a relational approach to working with his clients while integrating psychodynamic understandings.
Research:
Andrew’s doctoral research included a dissertation that understood depression as a potentially transformative process through the lens of Jungian psychology. Specifically, it examined underlying psychological and unconscious factors to understand the relationship more deeply between symptoms and symbols.
Contact: Andrew.Sarkisianpsyd@gmail.com
Phone: 773-257-3144
Patrick Dawley, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Patrick received his Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University Chicago, previously studying theology and philosophy as an undergraduate student at North Park University in Chicago. Patrickhas long been interested in the mysterious and unexplainable dimensions of life which often lie at the heart of people's emotional and psychological pain. His areas of clinical interest include helping people sort through issues of identity, purpose, vocation, and spiritual/religious concerns. Patrick has years of experience treating a wide range of mood, anxiety, and psychotic distress in a community mental health setting. He brings this collaborative and highly individualized approach to private practice work, drawing on advanced psychoanalytic training to think deeply about each patient's unique needs.
Patrick strongly believes that a trusting, inviting relationship is the primary ingredient for psychological change. Psychotherapy is a form of work where both people co-create a meaningful space for growth. With humble curiosity and enduring openness for all thoughts, feelings, and fantasies patients bring to therapy, Patrick aims to help people achieve a lasting sense of self-esteem and authenticity that resonates through all areas of their life.
Contact: Pdawleylcsw@proton.me
Phone: 773-645-1707
Services
The Center for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy is a small, intimate private practice setting that offers insight-oriented psychotherapy to adolescents, adults, and couples as well as play therapy for children. We are located in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago next to Lady Gregory restaurant, serving those from greater Chicago, including Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown, Lincoln Square, and Ravenswood. We also offer telehealth services for those who prefer it. Being on a major public transportation route, we are easily accessible from various parts of Chicago.
Our therapists all have extensive training and research in psychodynamic theory and practice, and we practice from a place of openness and curiosity to each individual we work with. We treat a wide range of concerns, including but not limited to the following:
Depression
Anxiety/panic
Relationship struggles
Excessive guilt/shame
Sexual problems
LGBTQ issues
Social isolation/loneliness
Addictions
Trauma/abuse
Grief/loss
Eating disturbances
Personality disorders
Existential/religious issues
Anger/irritability
Parent/child conflicts
Nightmares/dreams
For children, we offer play therapy and sandtray therapy to address mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. We are also able to accommodate various schedules, as Saturday appointments are available.
Why Psychodynamic Psychotherapy?
Psychodynamic psychotherapy, often called depth psychology, is a therapeutic approach and model that is integrative and comprehensive. It is both a relational and insight-oriented form of talk therapy that stresses the importance and relevance of both conscious and unconscious factors in one's psychological life. While other forms of psychotherapeutic treatment focus solely on symptom reduction, psychodynamic psychotherapy attempts to explore the deeper "roots" of one's psychological concerns rather than merely ridding surface symptoms. Thus, while in therapy, one might explore one's childhood, intimate or familial relationships, dreams or fantasies, unwanted behaviors and impulses, relationship between therapist and patient, or any other topic that one chooses to discuss. In so doing, psychodynamic psychotherapy can both resolve symptoms and impart meaning to one's experiences, even those experiences that are often deemed painful or meaningless. Studies have also shown that the long term benefits of psychodynamic treatment produce longer lasting impact than other treatment modalities.
Psychodynamic therapy is appropriate for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. As an approach for children, this type of therapy includes play therapy and sandtray therapy to effectively address trauma, behavioral, and developmental challenges in children. For more information on the efficacy of psychodynamic psychotherapy, please refer to an article via the link below that was published by Jonathan Shedler in the American Psychological Association's journal, American Psychologist:
