Rather Lee PHD

Warm greetings and welcome to our website. This website aims to provide you with some fundamental information about our background, private practice, and the therapeutic services we offer. We are a team of licensed psychologists and certified psychoanalysts based in the heart of San Francisco, specifically in Pacific Heights. Our practice specializes in adult psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, couples' therapy, and consultation for mental health professionals. For more details about our services, kindly visit our Services page.

For over 35 years, we have been dedicated to helping individuals with a wide spectrum of challenges, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, sexual concerns, interpersonal relationship issues, career obstacles, and the process of coping with difficult and traumatic life situations. Our clients include creative artists, dedicated professionals, socially-motivated advocates, young adults in the process of self-discovery, and seasoned adults reevaluating their lives. In these rapidly changing times, many are grappling with the demands of daily life and are increasingly confronted with the disruptions and transformations in the socio-cultural, political, and ecological dimensions of life. Regardless of who you are and the specific issues you are facing, our work together will help you uncover and develop a more vibrant and authentic sense of self, ultimately leading to a deeper sense of meaning and engagement in life.

In addition to our practice, we have extensive experience teaching, supervising therapists, presenting workshops, and publishing scholarly papers. For more information about our publications, presentations, and teaching, kindly visit the respective pages. We hope you find this website informative, and we look forward to speaking with you if you have further questions or would like to learn more about our services.

Clinical Services

We offer a variety of clinical services, including:

• Individual Psychotherapy: Our individual therapy sessions are typically scheduled once or twice a week. Individuals seek psychotherapy for various constructive reasons. Some need assistance in navigating a crisis, while others want help addressing persistent emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, sexual issues, eating disorders, panic attacks, and grief. Others aim to comprehend and come to terms with painful or traumatic personal histories. Moreover, many individuals recognize the need for help in breaking free from recurring distressing patterns that hinder their satisfaction and potential in intimate relationships and careers. By engaging in a consistent therapeutic practice, individuals can achieve a deeper understanding, personal transformation, and increased fulfillment in their personal lives.

• Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis is an intensive and immersive form of psychotherapy. Sessions are scheduled 3-5 times per week, with the traditional analytic couch typically utilized. The process of psychoanalysis hinges on a secure, confidential relationship with a trusted analyst, providing a safe space for emotional dilemmas to surface and be explored in all their complexity. Through this deeper relationship, we collaborate to unravel the intricate meanings of your experiences via examination of emotional reactions, thoughts, memories, dreams, images, and bodily sensations. The higher frequency of sessions offers a unique opportunity to access deeper layers of personal experience and thoroughly process them for the first time. Usually, individuals find using the analytic couch allows for greater freedom in self-expression and increased openness to self-discovery, thus enhancing the potential for self-knowledge and personal change. Psychoanalysis promotes profound personal growth and increased freedom from unsatisfying and painful modes of living.

Modern psychoanalysis has evolved by integrating new findings and approaches from various disciplines, such as attachment theory, neuroscience, and interpersonal and relational psychoanalysis. We build upon the pioneering work of Freud while embracing the diverse perspectives and innovations of contemporary psychoanalysts.

• Couples Therapy: Our couples therapy aims to help partners gain a deeper understanding of their relationships, improve communication and empathy, resolve conflicts, and enhance emotional intimacy and sexual satisfaction. We provide a safe and non-judgmental space for partners to express their thoughts and feelings and learn more adaptive ways of relating to one another. Our goal is to foster mutual growth, understanding, and healing.

• Consultation for Professionals: We offer consultation services to mental health professionals seeking consultation, supervision, or guidance on various aspects of clinical practice, theory, and professional development. We provide individual and group consultation, offering support, feedback, and collaboration to enhance clinical skills and professional growth.