Starting therapy can feel like a big step, especially when you’re not sure what to expect. If you’re beginning to work with an AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) therapist, like the ones at myTherapyNYC, you might be curious about how it’ll feel and how this type of therapy might differ from others. Simply put, AEDP is all about healing through connection. It’s a compassionate, emotion-focused approach that helps you feel safe, seen, and supported as you explore what’s really going on in your life. This blog will walk you through what your sessions might look like, how your AEDP therapist will show up for you, and what kind of experience you can expect as the process unfolds.
What Makes AEDP Different?
Most types of therapy aim to help you feel better, but how they go about that often looks and feels unique in their own ways. AEDP is different from many other therapies because it’s not just about talking through your problems or learning new coping skills. It’s a type of experiential and relational therapy, which means that it’s based in having a real, human connection with your therapist, and then using that connection to help you feel safe to really feel your emotions and learn from them. AEDP therapists aim to be warm, emotionally present, and genuinely want to be in the emotional experience with you. They’re not sitting back with a notepad, counting down the minutes, and letting you process alone. They’re actively tuned into your inner world and help you make sense of it as you go about your life.
History of AEDP
AEDP was developed by a psychologist named Dr. Diana Fosha, who based her work around an interesting question: What helps people not just survive emotional pain, but actually grow and heal from it? Drawing from neuroscience, attachment theory, and trauma research, she built the AEDP therapy model based on connection, emotional healing, and the brain’s natural and innate capacity to change. The result was a therapy modality that helps people feel seen, supported, and able to move through pain together. Not just to talk about it, but actually feel better in a deep, long-lasting way.
Here are a few core ideas that shape how AEDP treatment works:
Emotions Aren’t the Enemy
When you can feel your emotions (even the hard ones) from beginning to end in a safe space, that’s where real healing starts. Our emotions provide us with real-time information about what we need to move forward. Sometimes it is easy to ignore, suppress, or even demonize our emotions when they feel unsavory, uncomfortable, or when we have been told our emotions are “too much.” AEDP aims to release these emotions, connect them to our somatic (or bodily) sensations, and show how important they are for our understanding of ourselves.
You Don’t Have to do This Alone
A big part of the therapy process is helping you feel truly seen and understood, especially in the areas of your life where you’ve felt isolated or unsupported in the past. AEDP therapists use the principle of “undoing aloneness” to create a safe connection with you to help you feel less alone as you navigate your struggles.
Your Therapist is Really With You
AEDP therapists are engaged, attuned to your verbal and non-verbal expressions, and are emotionally responsive. Working with an AEDP therapist is a relationship, not just a treatment. They want to see the real you and help you achieve your goals.
The Goal of Therapy is Transformation
This work is about helping you feel more connected to yourself and others, working through hard emotions and trauma, and eventually feeling more like yourself. Things like trauma and impactful memories can make it hard for us to feel like we can move forward in our lives. Coping skills are important to know and use, but don’t always address the full picture of your life. On the other hand, AEDP therapists believe that humans have an inherent capacity to heal, and AEDP therapy helps to facilitate that natural instinct so that you can transform into the truest version of yourself and feel empowered to take on new challenges.
What to Expect With an AEDP Therapist
AEDP sessions flow a little differently depending on who you are, who your therapist is, and what you’re working on. Here are some common practices you might come across in the AEDP space:
You might start by checking in emotionally and/or physically. Your therapist might ask, “What are you feeling right now?” or “Where do you notice that in your body?” You might then talk through something meaningful or emotional. This could be a recent event, memory, or a moment of significance you had during the week. You might even want to look at something distressing or exciting from the past. Your therapist may slow things down to help you notice what you’re feeling underneath the surface as you reflect.
You’ll explore these moments of insight or shifts together. You will identify what they mean for you to gain deeper clarity and insight about your emotional world. This type of therapy is not about following a script. It’s about being present with what’s real in the moment, and having someone with you as you explore it.
For example, let’s say you’re telling a story and you start to tear up, or your heart begins to race, or you suddenly feel nothing at all. Instead of pushing past it, your therapist might gently ask, “Can we stay with that for a second?” That moment of emotional or somatic shift becomes a doorway into something deeper, something that is full of meaning that your therapist wants to help you explore. Or maybe you feel embarrassed or unsure about how to move forward through a trigger. Your therapist won’t brush it off or ignore it. They’ll help you feel understood and supported, right there in the moment, by inviting you to look deeper. These aren’t just nice conversations with a kind person; they’re chances to rewrite emotional patterns in real time.
What Questions Will My Therapist Ask?
AEDP therapists ask explorative questions designed to help you tune in more deeply to your emotions and felt experiences. Some examples might be:
- “What’s happening inside right now as you say that?”
- “Where do you feel that in your body?”
- “Which emotion is with you at this present moment?”
- “Can we slow down and notice what’s coming up for you?”
- “What’s it like to share this with me right now?”
- “Can I help hold the weight of this feeling with you?”
These questions help you get out of your head and into your body. AEDP therapists believe that’s where healing can really start to happen.
Who Can Benefit From AEDP?
AEDP therapy can be incredibly helpful for people who want to get a better sense of their emotional world. People who want to understand the impact of past wounds. AEDP will allow you to feel supported by a safe, caring person. It’s especially beneficial to those who have gone through relational trauma. It helps those who struggle with things like shame, anxiety, or emotional numbness.
Additionally, it helps those who use avoidance as a coping skill or feel isolated or stuck. That said, you don’t have to be in crisis or have gone through trauma to benefit from AEDP. Whether you’re dealing with a life transition, identity questions, burnout, grief, relationship issues, or want to feel more like yourself, this kind of therapy can meet you where you are. Therapists trained in AEDP know how to adapt to all kinds of struggles and will work with you to make sure you are feeling held throughout the treatment.
Starting therapy can feel scary and vulnerable. But it can also be the start of something really powerful, healing, and sometimes even life-changing. If you’re beginning AEDP therapy at myTherapyNYC, you’re not just showing up to chat about your day. You’re stepping into a space where your emotions matter, your experience is honored, and you don’t have to be alone. Wherever you’re starting from, your therapist will walk with you every step of the way!
Interested in exploring AEDP therapy? Reach out to myTherapyNYC to find out which of our therapists would be a good fit for you!
How do you think AEDP therapy would help you? Join the conversation in the comments below!
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