What is Object Relations Therapy?

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Object Relations Therapy focuses on people’s early childhood relationships. The “object” in this theory refers to a person. Object Relations theory states that people are deeply impacted by early relationships, even more so if these relationships are abusive, neglectful, or unhealthy. People’s earliest relationships help them form mental images. These images impact future relationships.

Object Relations Theory states that people often engage in a process called “splitting.” Splitting is when people categorize relationships as being either good or bad. In reality, relationships are generally not entirely good or bad. They have healthy parts, unhealthy parts, and have ways of relating that are in between.

Your therapist will help you to see all aspects of relationships. They will help you understand how your earliest relationships affect your ways of relating in the present. By helping you develop healthier ways of relating within counseling, you can more easily take these ways of relating outside of the counseling space.

Find an Object Relations Therapist Near You

Roland Y Kim

Los Angeles

California

I enjoy working with teenagers and young adults who find themselves stalled in their academic or career development due to anxiety or depression, often exhibited through poor school performance, addiction, or other self-destructive behaviors. I believe there are no bad children, but only disconnected ones. My rewarding work is also with professionals who find themselves burnt-out and stuck in...
I enjoy working with teenagers and young adults who find themselves stalled in their academic or career development due to anxiety or depression, often exhibited through poor school performance, addiction, or other self-destructive behaviors. I believe there are no bad children, but only disconnected ones. My rewarding work is also with professionals who find themselves burnt-out and stuck in...
I specialize in helping adults & adolescents express and understand their emotions, strengthen relationships, & gain confidence through self-reflection. No two people are alike, which is why I never rely on a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Instead, in a respectful environment, my clients and I co-create an individualized plan to meet their goals. We will focus on reducing current suffering, whil...
Every human being suffers in life, but when the suffering begins to preoccupy you than professional help can be beneficial. Disruption can impact any aspect of life, you can become absorbed in the emotional pain and loose clarity. This is where I can help you either regain your emotional equilibrium or explore deeper how the present circumstance is activating an old vulnerability out of your...
I believe that change and healing come through relationship. Human beings are complicated and messy, but each of us has the inherent desire to be fully understood by another person. My goal as a counselor is to offer you the gift of presence in a space that is sacred in its safety. My approach is empathic, collaborative, compassionate, and full of curiosity about who you are and what you want....
Offices in San Francisco and in Mill Valley - I have 20 years experience supporting diverse people in creating more Passionate, Engaged and Deeply Meaningful lives. I help people become Happier, Calmer and more Empowered in the face of life's many changes. In a compassionate and accepting environment, I welcome all that is going on for you right now, and support you in transforming problematic...

Will Pitts

New York

New York

Are you seeking non-judgmental, engaged and collaborative, solution-focused help? As a gender-conscious, cis male psychotherapist specializing in couples and individual therapy, I use both systemic and psychodynamic thinking to help a patient or couple understand their position(s), roles, and relationships, past and present. I honor self-determination and facilitate self-awareness, so that each...

Kamila Z. Usuki

New York

New York

Difficulties in personal or professional life can make anyone feel overwhelmed, confused or hopeless. Family problems, health issues, loss, pain or traumatic past can add to the distress. Getting through these obstacles doesn't have to be a lonely process. In a supportive and confidential atmosphere, we can discuss your thoughts and feelings, and together, make sense of your unique life's...
As a social worker, I value diversity and differentness. If you are more interested in becoming the person you are truly meant to be, rather than the person others may expect you to become, you will probably feel very comfortable working with me. My work with clients is psychodynamic in nature, which relies on the quality of the therapeutic relationship where you can begin to experience yoursel...
There's in fact a tried and true way of finally coming to fully trust in yourself, which heals the self-doubt that can otherwise complicate life so unhappily. Whether your self-doubt involves anxiety, depression, relationship troubles, trauma or shame, there sleeps within you the instinctual self-certainty which silences the "critical voices" from your past.To revive an abiding faith in your co...

Benjamin A Mills

Gainesville

Florida

I received my Bachelor's of Science in Business Management from Liberty University in 2004. After working in the business field for several years, I realized that I wanted to be able to work with people on a deeper level. In 2014 I received my Master's of Arts in Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary in Oviedo, FL. I specialize in Couples Therapy and the treatment of Trauma and Abuse...

Elisabeth Ansel Edwards

Gainesville

Florida

Our therapists all work from a relational and insight oriented approach. We believe that we were all created for connection and that our woundedness often gets in the way of this connectedness, whether it be to God or to others. Deep, intensive counseling can help heal this woundedness so that connections are more honest, genuine, and whole. It should also leave you with a deeper sense of self ...

Eliza Baughn

Seattle

Washington

In a time of crisis and while facing chronic stress, psychotherapy can be grounding influence; a relationship with a therapist may provide a sense of connection, routine and support. I offer psychoanalytic therapy which is an approach to mental health care that can be very useful for someone struggling with anxiety, who is also curious to explore how identity, personal experiences and emotions ...

Madeleine Shaver

Savannah

Georgia

I believe therapy is the place to learn about our patterns and enhance ourselves. It can be the opportunity to understand feelings and behaviors that lead to hurtful relationships, chaos, and unhappiness. Help is available for anyone experiencing Addiction, Eating Disorders, Trauma, and Codependency. I enjoy helping people achieve recovery, mend relationships, relieve shame, and move forward fr...

Cristy Smith

Seattle

Washington

There are many approaches to treating pain. Counseling deals primarily with common issues such as relationship problems, job stress or life changes. Psychotherapy goes into more depth and deals with specific symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive traits. The goal of psychotherapy is not to "fix" external problems, although that can be the result; rather, the purpose of...