# Psychoanalyst for Executives | Anna Frost | Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/ ## Sources of Dysfunctional Relationship AREAS OF FOCUS - Isolation: Feeling noticed, valued, and connected isn't a luxury. It's a fundamental need. When that need is met, you naturally extend it to the people around you. - Uncertainty: Clarify and define what matters most. When you know what you want, you can begin to ask for it. - Communication: Learning to actually communicate what you feel -- without emotionally withdrawing or gearing up for battle -- changes everything. - Anxiety: Sessions provide new orientations to relationship problems. These fresh perspectives decrease anxiety levels -- and grant greater intimacy. ## Your next chapter starts with one conversation. After 6 sessions, walk away with hidden obstacles identified, addressed -- and relationships improved. Anna Frost -- 303.547.8493 ### Nationally Certified Psychoanalyst High-achieving people who focus on precision, analysis, and outcomes frequently experience anxiety, emotional strain, and relational issues. Leaders in high-pressure fields where logic and performance are prized often neglect the importance of developing emotional bandwidth. I work with individuals and couples who recognize the importance of "soft issues" for successful outcomes. Our sessions result in new approaches to difficult relationships, clarifying values and purpose, and lowering levels of anxiety -- which allows for greater intimacy. Private. Confidential. No Notes. Client testimonials: "Anna provides a safe and calming environment that helped me navigate issues both in my personal and professional life. Her approach is objective and scientific, and she ensures you're feeling heard." "When I moved to Boulder I was struggling to find a therapist I enjoyed and could assist me in certain aspects of life. Anna has been a great find and made the transition back into therapy very easy. I have continued to see Anna for months and recommend her to anyone who is struggling with their mental health." --- # Individual Psychoanalysis for Executives | Boulder, CO URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/individual-work/ # Individual Work ## For High-Performing Leaders PERSONAL. RESULTS-DRIVEN. After 6 sessions, walk away with hidden obstacles identified, addressed -- and relationships improved. Anna Frost -- 303.547.8493 Private. Confidential. No Notes. Analysis is not about repair. It's about opening the next door. --- # Relationship Issues in Boulder, CO | Relational Analysis URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/relationship-issues/ # Relationship Issues ## Relational Analysis ## Sources of Dysfunction Relationship dysfunction stems from a deficit of narcissistic supply. Defined by Fenichel in 1938 as "a type of admiration, interpersonal support drawn by an individual from their environment, essential to their self-esteem." Narcissistic supply is about a biological need to feel noticed, valued, and connected. Without that supply, relationships become a search for validation, leading to patterns of disconnection, anxiety, and burnout. Relational Analysis restores narcissistic supply -- providing the experience of being seen, valued, and understood. When you internalize this experience, you naturally extend it to others, and connections and relationships improve. Anna Frost -- 303.547.8493 ## Breakups / Divorce Do you feel misunderstood in your relationship, or lonely in your marriage? Are there too many arguments? or, too much silence? Do you not get recognition/acknowledgement for the efforts you make? Stress response kicks in and exacerbates anxiety, affecting our heart rate, our breathing. We can't sleep. We ruminate. We gear up for battle -- and can't imagine how to find relief. ## Your next chapter starts with one conversation. Book a consult. Walk away with barriers identified, addressed -- and relationships improved. Anna Frost -- 303.547.8493 #### Isolation Feeling noticed, valued, and connected isn't a luxury. It's a fundamental need. When that need is met, you naturally extend it to the people around you. #### Uncertainty Clarify and define what matters most. When you know what you want, you can begin to ask for it. #### Communication Learning to actually communicate what you feel -- without emotionally withdrawing or gearing up for battle -- changes everything. #### Anxiety Sessions provide new orientations to relationship problems. These fresh perspectives decrease anxiety levels -- and grant greater intimacy. --- # Anna Frost, NCPsyA | Nationally Certified Psychoanalyst | Boulder, CO URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/anna-frost/ # Anna Frost ## Nationally Certified Psychoanalyst ## Hi there, Anna Frost here. I am a Relational Psychoanalyst dedicated to helping high-achieving professionals increase their emotional/relational well-being. With over 28 years of private clinical experience, I continue to provide the means for individuals and couples to identify and master personal and professional challenges. Anna Frost -- 303.547.8493 ## Your next chapter starts with one conversation. Book a consult. Walk away with barriers identified, addressed -- and relationships improved. Anna Frost -- 303.547.8493 Client testimonials: "Anna provides a safe and calming environment that helped me navigate issues both in my personal and professional life. Her approach is objective and scientific, and she ensures you're feeling heard." "When I moved to Boulder I was struggling to find a therapist I enjoyed and could assist me in certain aspects of life. Anna has been a great find and made the transition back into therapy very easy. I have continued to see Anna for months and recommend her to anyone who is struggling with their mental health." --- # Free Consultation | Contact Anna Frost | Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/contact/ # Contact ### Contact Anna with questions, request a consult, or schedule an appointment. Please do not share any private information on this form. We can visit that in a session. Please share in what area you are interested: - Initial consult (NO CHARGE) - Individual work - Breakups / Divorce Phone: 303.547.8493 Email: annafrost.bc@gmail.com --- # Insights on Executive Mental Health | Blog | Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/blog/ # Blog All posts across 3 pages (most recent first): **Page 1 (most recent):** - [You've Optimized Everything -- Except the Part You Can't See](https://boulderconsultation.com/youve-optimized-everything-except-the-part-you-cant-see/) -- May 5, 2025 - [Your Inherited Code is There to Explore](https://boulderconsultation.com/your-inherited-code-is-there-to-explore/) -- May 1, 2025 - [Our Brain's DMN (Default Mode Network) & a New Psychoanalysis](https://boulderconsultation.com/2259-2/) -- May 1, 2025 - [Understanding Relationship Patterns: A Psychoanalytic Lens for Physicians and Providers](https://boulderconsultation.com/understanding-relationship-patterns-a-psychoanalytic-lens-for-physicians-and-providers/) -- April 30, 2025 - [On Fatherhood](https://boulderconsultation.com/on-fatherhood/) -- April 4, 2025 - [Disillusioned with the Current State of Healthcare?](https://boulderconsultation.com/disillusioned-with-the-current-state-of-heathcare/) -- April 2, 2025 - [What Causes Relationship Dysfunction?](https://boulderconsultation.com/what-causes-relationship-dysfunction/) -- March 20, 2025 - [Why Brilliant People Struggle in Relationships -- CEOs, Engineers, Doctors, Scientists](https://boulderconsultation.com/why-brilliant-people-struggle-in-relationships-ceos-engineers-doctors-scientists/) -- February 11, 2025 - [High Achievement Comes At a Price](https://boulderconsultation.com/high-achievement-comes-at-a-price/) -- February 5, 2025 - [High-Achieving at Work -- Lonely at Home?](https://boulderconsultation.com/high-achieving-at-work-lonely-at-home/) -- January 15, 2025 - [Type A People & Issues](https://boulderconsultation.com/emotional-minute-3-type-a-people-issues/) - [Holiday Realm is Upon Us](https://boulderconsultation.com/emotional-minute-18-holiday-realm-is-upon-us/) **Page 2:** - [Do We Have to Talk About Feelings?](https://boulderconsultation.com/emotional-minute-17-do-we-have-to-talk-about-feelings/) -- October 22, 2024 - [Successful in Your Profession -- Not Happy in Your Life?](https://boulderconsultation.com/successful-in-your-profession-not-happy-in-your-life/) -- October 14, 2024 - [To gain media attention is to provide provocative](https://boulderconsultation.com/to-gain-media-attention-is-to-provide-provocative/) - [Psychedelic Integration](https://boulderconsultation.com/psychedelic-integration/) -- March 25, 2018 - [What is Psychotherapy?](https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-psychotherapy/) -- January 25, 2018 - [What is Counseling?](https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-counseling/) -- January 18, 2018 - [Psychotherapy for Adolescents](https://boulderconsultation.com/therapy-for-adolescents/) -- October 31, 2017 - [What is Psychoanalysis?](https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-psychoanalysis/) -- October 20, 2017 - [Modern Psychoanalysis or Psychoanalytic Therapy](https://boulderconsultation.com/psychoanalysis/) -- October 10, 2017 - [Counseling](https://boulderconsultation.com/counseling/) -- September 2017 - [Psychotherapy](https://boulderconsultation.com/psychotherapy/) -- September 13, 2017 - [Psychotherapy for Children and Parents](https://boulderconsultation.com/therapy-for-children/) -- August 11, 2017 **Page 3:** - [What Kind of Therapy?](https://boulderconsultation.com/what-kind-of-therapy/) -- June 28, 2017 - [What is Modern Analysis?](https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-modern-analysis/) -- January 1, 2017 --- # What is Psychoanalysis? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-psychoanalysis/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- October 20, 2017 # What is Psychoanalysis? Psychoanalysis was founded on the discovery that we are unconscious of the many factors that determine our emotions and behavior. Psychoanalysis is an approach to addressing emotional distress that originates from the discoveries and ideas of Sigmund Freud. Modern Psychoanalysis, however, is inclusive and makes extensive use of all subsequent theories and practices that assist with self-understanding. In making the unconscious conscious, modern psychoanalysis is a form of truth-seeking and it is a kind of truthfulness about our desires and motives that does not come easily. Psychoanalysis insists that the more honest we are with ourselves, the greater our chances of living a satisfying and fulfilling life. In addition, the quality of the relationship between the analyst and the patient is critical. Modern psychoanalysis is built on a collaborative partnership -- in the course of which the patient becomes aware of the formative aspects of their life, not simply intellectually, but emotionally -- by re-experiencing them with the analyst. Through the course of analysis, we look together beyond our troubling symptoms to understand the causes of our distress. By taking our suffering seriously, we take ourselves seriously and gain perspective and confidence in our own choices and doings. Psychoanalysis aims high and understands that by living the examined life and knowing ourselves -- our unconscious --, we can achieve satisfaction in love, work and play. --- # What is Modern Analysis? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-modern-analysis/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- January 1, 2017 # What is Modern Analysis? Psychoanalysis was founded on the discovery that we are unconscious of the many factors that determine our emotions and behavior. Psychoanalysis is an approach which addresses longstanding emotional distress and it originated with the work Sigmund Freud. Modern Analysis, in addition, also relies on subsequent theories and practices that assist self-understanding. In making the unconscious conscious, Modern Analysis is a form of truth-seeking and it's a truthfulness about our desires and motives that does not come easily. Yet, the thrust of analysis continues to insist that the more honest we are with ourselves, the greater our chances of living a satisfying and fulfilling life. In Modern Analysis, the quality of the relationship between the analyst and the patient is critical. Modern Analysis is built on a collaborative partnership in the course of which the patient becomes aware of the formative aspects of their life, not simply intellectually, but emotionally -- by re-experiencing them with the analyst. In the course of analysis, we look together beyond our symptoms to understand the underlying causes of distress. By taking this distress seriously, we take ourselves seriously and gain perspective and confidence in our own choices and doings. Modern Psychoanalysis aims high and understands that by exploring our personal histories and knowing ourselves more fully, we improve our chances of living a satisfying, fulfilling, and meaningful life. --- # Modern Psychoanalysis or Psychoanalytic Therapy - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/psychoanalysis/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- October 10, 2017 # Modern Psychoanalysis or Psychoanalytic Therapy Modern psychoanalysis is the treatment of choice for people who really want to get at the root of their problems and make sense of their life. It honors the fact that people have the capacity to discover their own answers when given the opportunity to talk openly. Modern psychoanalysis can help people who suffer emotional pain, including those who feel weakened or derailed in their personal development, disappointed and hurt in their intimate relationships, or held back or blocked in their pursuit of creative and successful work. Modern analysis is often helpful when less intensive treatments have not been adequate. Because psychoanalysis is more ambitious in its goals, it requires a higher level of personal commitment. Through the course of analytic work, people gain a different perspective on their distress and begin to truly understand and appreciate all that has gone into the making of themselves. --- # What is Psychotherapy? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-psychotherapy/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- January 25, 2018 # What is Psychotherapy? Most often people seek psychotherapy during a time of personal crisis -- when feelings are overwhelming or when there are significant relationship disruptions. As a disciplined systematic approach, Psychotherapy is a way of talking and thinking that provides the kind of understanding that can unravel emotional/relationship problems. It's a confidential conversation with a well-trained professional who listens and attends without judgment. When people are given the opportunity to talk openly in an atmosphere of acceptance, they make significant progress in areas they are wanting to address. When disruptions and symptoms of distress threaten to erode our (or our family's) quality of life, Psychotherapy remains one of the most effective ways to alleviate personal and/or relationship hardships. --- # Psychotherapy - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/psychotherapy/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- September 13, 2017 # Psychotherapy People usually seek therapy during a time of personal or relationship crisis or when there are relationship problems at work. Psychotherapy provides a disciplined systematic approach to helping people feel better and achieve more in their lives. Psychotherapy is different than talking things over with a trusted friend or family member. It is also different than receiving advice from an expert, a teacher or a spiritual advisor. Psychotherapy is a place where your talking makes a difference. It's a confidential conversation with a professional trained to listen attentively without judgement. When people are given the opportunity to talk openly in an atmosphere of acceptance, people make better progress in life, relationships and work. When disruptions and symptoms of distress threaten to erode your (or your family's) quality of life, psychotherapy remains one of the most effective ways to alleviate and resolve personal and/or relationship hardships. --- # What Kind of Therapy? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/what-kind-of-therapy/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- June 28, 2017 # What Kind of Therapy? The term therapy encompasses diverse treatments that aim to cure many different kinds of ailments. In terms of mental health, however, therapy refers to treatments designed to alleviate physical and emotional distress that stem from various emotional traumas. There are many kinds of mental health treatments available these days. Therapy treatments range from cognitive behavioral methods that emphasize thought/feeling redirection, problem-solving, skill building techniques (such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, IFS, NLP, etc.) to prescriptive experiential, emotional work (such as SE, EFT). In-depth therapy (i.e., talk therapy, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, modern analysis) is a different kind of experience. This is an exploration and a finding out about all that has made for the current dilemmas or difficulties. It does not make diagnoses, assumptions or prescriptions. Talking about anything and everything (exploring a field without a fence) is the vehicle for sufficiently acknowledging and understanding the whole self and its needs/desires. To understand the self in this way is key to carving out a better daily life. Our goal is to offer this most beneficial experience. --- # What is Counseling? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/what-is-counseling/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- January 18, 2018 # What is Counseling? Counseling may be suitable for people who are dealing with a temporary crisis. Sometimes counseling can help alleviate immediate distress in a very quick 8 to 10 sessions. However, if there are underlying, longstanding problems, these will take more time to resolve. If you're seeking guidance with a particular issue and not addressing underlying issues, counseling may be sufficient. --- # Psychotherapy for Adolescents - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/therapy-for-adolescents/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- October 31, 2017 # Psychotherapy for Adolescents With teenagers, it is not always clear if professional help is needed. Adolescents typically test limits and break the rules in their struggle for autonomy and separation from their parents. It's not uncommon that teens withdraw from parents, become more sullen, arrogant, temperamental and more challenging to live with. Keeping this adolescent phase of life in mind, how do you decide whether professional help is needed? I recommend getting psychotherapeutic help when you notice troubling behaviors or emotional distresses that persist over long periods of time. Examples include: - Alcohol and drug abuse (use exceeds occasional experimentation and is interfering with the teenager's life) - Chronic and unremitting decline in academics or truancy at school - Repeated defiance and disregard for parental limits - A marked decrease in self-esteem with an increase in severe negative self-statements - Increase in high-risk behaviors such as speeding, fighting at school, promiscuity - Prolonged isolation from peers - Verbal references to harm oneself, others, or any gesture to harm oneself or others - Inability to communicate and express one's feelings I recommend parents consult with me initially before involving the teenager. When it is decided to include the adolescent, I work to create a climate of trust, spontaneity, and openness with the teen. Teenagers respond best when they feel listened to and learning to talk candidly is the crucial ingredient for the teen to find her or his way toward autonomy and self-respect. Psychotherapy provides a confidential and reliable place where teens can experiment with self-expression and begin to understand their feeling so that they can begin to discover what they want in this life. --- # Psychotherapy for Children and Parents - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/therapy-for-children/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- August 11, 2017 # Psychotherapy for Children and Parents Contrary to popular opinion, children are not less impacted by troubles than adults. Children have fewer coping skills and less control over themselves and their environment. When there are troubles at home, children can be affected in many ways. The age of the child and his/her developmental maturity influences how the child will communicate her/his distress. Rather than being able to tell us what she/he is feeling, a child may become more irritable, have unexpected troubles at school, have difficulties sleeping, or become upset more easily. The thing to keep in mind is that many children exhibit their troubles before they can talk about them. The job of the child therapist is to decipher what the child is "telling" us with their behaviors and begin to help the child through play, fantasy, and conversation to find words for their underlying feelings, i.e., begin to express what is going on emotionally inside. Therapy with children is successful when parents and families are engaged in the process and are willing to look at ways their behaviors and communications impact their child. It is essential to include parents in sessions, often meeting with the parents individually to help understand what is happening. --- # Psychedelic Integration - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/psychedelic-integration/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- March 25, 2018 # Psychedelic Integration Psychedelic therapies (MDMA, Ketamine, LSD, Psilocybin, Ayahuasca) are becoming more available and can help provide relief or expand/explore our consciousness. I don't facilitate psychedelic experiences but help you talk through and understand your experience. Psychoanalysis is optimally equipped to work with the unconscious and explore and uncover understandings/identifications that are foundational to who you are after a dosing experience. --- # Exploring Relationship Dynamics Through a Psychoanalytic Lens URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/understanding-relationship-patterns-a-psychoanalytic-lens-for-physicians-and-providers/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- April 30, 2025 # Understanding Relationship Patterns: A Psychoanalytic Lens for Physicians and Providers Psychoanalytic methods offer powerful means to understand relationship patterns and help individuals recognize unconscious dynamics that influence their interactions. For physicians and providers, this perspective is invaluable, as it enables them to improve their personal and professional relationships, ultimately enhancing their effectiveness in caregiving roles. At Boulder Consultation, we work closely with individuals to understand these patterns. Through psychoanalytic individual work, providers identify underlying dynamics that shape their responses to patients, colleagues, and loved ones. As they explore these connections, they develop more attuned and empathetic relationships, benefiting both their personal lives and professional practice. ## Unconscious Drivers in Relationships One of the foundational principles of psychoanalysis is that much of human behavior is influenced by unconscious processes. These processes often originate in early relational experiences, forming the neurological Default Mode Network for how we interact with others throughout life. For example, physicians may inadvertently replicate patterns from their own upbringing in their interactions with patients or colleagues. Recognizing these unconscious drivers, this underlying programming, allows us to break free from automatic responses that no longer serve us. Instead, we can cultivate healthier, more intentional ways of connecting with others. This insight is particularly essential for providers who are often in high-pressure roles where emotional dynamics impact patient outcomes. ## Recognizing Patterns in Professional Dynamics Within a caregiving profession, relational patterns are not confined to patient-provider interactions. They also emerge within clinical teams, peer relationships, and management hierarchies. A provider who consistently avoids conflict, for example, might find themselves taking on an excessive workload. Understanding these patterns can prevent providers from becoming overextended and help them set boundaries. Psychoanalytic methods allow us to examine and understand the reasons behind these underlying patterns/programming and propose healthier solutions. Progress begins with awareness, and as we dissect these patterns, providers will better align their professional relationships with their values and goals. ## Expanding Insight Through Individual Work By engaging in psychoanalytic individual work, providers discover how their relational patterns affect not just external dynamics but their own inner sense of well-being. This approach is more than introspection; it's an exploration of past and current experiences -- and clarifies current behaviors and future aspirations. At Boulder Consultation, we prioritize helping providers uncover these insights within a confidential and judgment-free space. For those who want to take the next step in analyzing relationship patterns, we offer thoughtful expertise, tailored to the specific needs of physicians and caregivers who want more connection in their personal and professional lives. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Work ### What is psychoanalytic individual work, and how does it differ from other approaches? Psychoanalytic individual work focuses on uncovering and exploring unconscious patterns that influence thoughts, feelings, and relationships. Unlike shorter-term solutions that address specific symptoms, psychoanalysis seeks to understand the root causes of relational and emotional issues. This deeper understanding enables long-lasting change in personal and professional dynamics. ### How can psychoanalytic individual work help healthcare providers? Healthcare providers often operate in high-stress environments that involve complex emotional interactions. Psychoanalytic individual work helps identify the unconscious dynamics affecting their relationships with patients, colleagues, and even themselves. By gaining awareness of these patterns, providers can improve communication, reduce burnout, and cultivate more meaningful connections. --- # You've Optimized Everything - Except the Part You Can't See - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/youve-optimized-everything-except-the-part-you-cant-see/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- May 5, 2025 # You've Optimized Everything -- Except the Part You Can't See For those interested, Boulder Consultation offers AI Assist to access emotional, relational, and realistic insights. By analyzing your adaptable programming -- your brain's Default Mode Network -- the AI Assist/Lens enhances the analytic process. It brings perspective, clarity, and structure to the patterns shaping your decisions, relationships, and self-perception. The AI Lens is designed for leaders who value innovation and want to view and explore their inner and relational life with precision. They don't need advice. They need a way to see the system running quietly underneath. In Relational Analysis with AI Assist, we turn your programming into language -- not to fix it, but to understand it. Clearly. Precisely. Once it's in language, you can work with it. And when you can work with it, your emotional life becomes available. You've optimized your systems. Now access the one that's been running you. --- # Your Inherited Code is There to Explore - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/your-inherited-code-is-there-to-explore/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- May 1, 2025 # Your Inherited Code is There to Explore Your mind runs on inherited code -- but you can rewrite it. As a psychoanalyst (relations analyst), my focus isn't on diagnosing what's broken, but on uncovering the implicit patterns that drive how you think, feel, and relate. This programming, this mental code, is shaped by years of experience, often unnoticed -- forming assumptions, automatic reactions, and the way you navigate relationships. It's not fixed, though -- you can reprogram these patterns to support better outcomes -- whether in leadership, personal connections, or emotional resilience. The first step is understanding the code you're running. The next step is exploring/creating the ground you want to run on. --- # Our Brain's DMN (Default Mode Network) & a New Psychoanalysis - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/2259-2/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- May 1, 2025 # Our Brain's DMN (Default Mode Network) & a New Psychoanalysis The Default Mode Network is our neural programming -- not in the rigid sense of fixed commands, but in the way complex systems develop scripts and routines over time. From early life onward, a person's experiences -- especially relational ones -- contribute to sculpted patterns of thought, expectation, and self-perception. These patterns are stored in memory and in the structure/functioning of the DMN. This "programming" includes: - How the self is represented - What the mind assumes about others - How meaning is made from inner and outer experience Crucially, this programming is: - Recursive: it reinforces itself over time - Opaque: it runs outside our awareness - Modifiable: with curiosity, safety, and analytic engagement -- this programming can become visible, questioned, and rewritten. Use the code, and explore it: expand its flexibility and introduce new adaptive scripts. In this sense, PSYCHOANALYSIS BECOMES COLLABORATIVE DEBUGGING. The DMN is not deterministic. With the right conditions, we can open it up, see how it runs, and ask if it's still optimally serving us. A NEW PSYCHOANALYSIS (RELATIONAL ANALYSIS) -- IN SERVICE OF ADAPTATION. --- # On Fatherhood - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/on-fatherhood/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- April 4, 2025 # On Fatherhood Fatherhood is often an under-appreciated role. Fathers are responsible for so very much and carry enormous weight, holding many things together for the family. A father provides more than financial support (which in itself takes enormous effort and dedication) and discipline -- his presence, consistency, and engagement in the world help his children develop a sense of security. When he is engaged with his children and emotionally available -- his children learn that they are worth being known and understood AND they develop self-worth and emotional availability too. When he shows up, is reliable and caring, he teaches his children how they should be treated in relationship. A father who listens, encourages and sets/enforces matter-of-fact boundaries provides a sense of safety and protection. His voice becomes an internal orientation and point of reference that is both kind and strong. --- # Disillusioned with the Current State of Healthcare? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/disillusioned-with-the-current-state-of-heathcare/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- April 2, 2025 # Disillusioned with the Current State of Healthcare? Many physicians, clinicians, providers are experiencing fewer returns for all they contribute (years of education, effort, finances, time) to their patients' well being in their current healthcare positions. Some are even considering moving into other arenas that reward them for their expertise and dedication. They are experiencing: - Long hours - Excessive administrative paperwork - Being overworked and undervalued - Seeing more patients in less time (volume over value) - Declining reimbursement - Declining autonomy Doctors, disillusioned with the industry, often do not address their concerns because there is a cost to: - Admitting or simply talking about exhaustion or emotional strain, which equals red flags with HR or insurance providers. - Pushing back against excessive paperwork and bureaucratic inefficiencies, which equals resistance rather than a legitimate concern. - Discussing financial pressures, which is risky even with colleagues. When talking is not allowed, pressure to hold things together builds and there is no way, nowhere to decompress. Without a confidential space to talk about these serious issues, doctors are at risk for anxiety/depression. Contact Anna Frost: 303.547.8493 for a short consult -- no charge. --- # Successful in Your Profession - Not Happy in Your Life? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/successful-in-your-profession-not-happy-in-your-life/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- October 14, 2024 # Successful in Your Profession -- Not Happy in Your Life? Because success/expertise demands enormous headspace, focus, and many hours of intense effort every day, there is little time for messy emotional material and personal/relational life easily gets sidelined. If this resonates with you, I work with people who excel at solving complex, highly technical problems, i.e., people who enjoy their minds, expertise, and accomplishments. Together, we methodically resolve patterns of behavior and daily decisions that block you from inhabiting a life of purpose and personal satisfaction. This process works well for people who want to explore/investigate/revise the workings of their internal and external experiences. ## Why settle for less in your personal life -- when more connection/intimacy, meaning, and pleasure await? I consult and work with you to: - Help you express what matters most to you - Improve awareness in personal interactions - Rewire limiting programming/identifications - Create work/life balance and reduce stress - Reinvigorate your own desires and goals If you're looking to reduce your psych medicines, I'm happy to consult with your psychiatrist, while you increase your own emotional competency in this process. I am a Nationally Certified Psychoanalyst and Relations Analyst. Since 2010, I've helped people unlock their emotional/relational potential at work and at home. What matters? Results. --- # Why Brilliant People Struggle in Relationships - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/why-brilliant-people-struggle-in-relationships-ceos-engineers-doctors-scientists/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- February 11, 2025 # Why Brilliant People Struggle in Relationships -- CEOs, Engineers, Doctors, Scientists Your brain is trained to solve complex problems. But what happens when it's a relationship issue? I've found that executives, engineers, doctors, and scientists who excel in their fields often find personal relationships -- frustrating and unpredictable. ## Common struggles include: - Logical solutions don't fix emotional disconnect - Work is clear-cut; Relationships are messy - Success at work is unnoticed at home Unfortunately, you can't "engineer" your way out of emotional disconnection. It takes a different approach -- including uncertainty, nuance, and emotional competence. Bright and driven people don't have to choose between success and pleasurable connections. If anyone can have both, you can. --- # High Achievement Comes At a Price - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/high-achievement-comes-at-a-price/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- February 5, 2025 # High Achievement Comes At a Price Top executives, engineers, scientists, doctors, IT leaders are masters of logic, strategy, and execution. Yet, at home they often struggle to connect with the people who matter most. Unfortunately, the very skills that make them exceptional -- precision, problem-solving, persistence, resilience -- can also make personal struggles harder to navigate. High performance shouldn't cost the loss of being seen, known, and appreciated by your partner, your children, your family. If you've felt this, you're not alone. Why not create solid relational ground at work and at home? If this resonates, a short consult is no charge: 303.547.8493 --- # High-Achieving at Work -- Lonely at Home? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/high-achieving-at-work-lonely-at-home/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- January 15, 2025 # High-Achieving at Work -- Lonely at Home? Successful people develop mastery in their field because they relentlessly wrestle difficult problems to the ground. ## Yet at home, problem-solving seems elusive. Why is that? Partly, they weren't trained to solve 'at home' problems. Partly, they didn't get the right equipment. As a species, we thrive when we feel understood and cared about, i.e., when we feel recognized, acknowledged, and appreciated. When you get these good feelings -- when your partner 'gets you' in this way -- you relax, feel comforted, and 'known.' As you problem-solve and understand what's prevented you from being recognized, you will access Your Self, Your Partner, Your Children in more meaningful, more pleasurable ways. This work carves out the means to feel seen, understood, and cared about. Why not be successful at work and at home? If anyone can do this, you can. --- # What Causes Relationship Dysfunction? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/what-causes-relationship-dysfunction/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- March 20, 2025 # What Causes Relationship Dysfunction? At its core, relationship dysfunction stems from a deficit of narcissistic supply -- defined by Fenichel in 1938 as "a type of admiration, interpersonal support drawn by an individual from their environment, essential to their self-esteem." Narcissistic supply isn't about vanity -- it's about the fundamental need to feel noticed, valued, and connected. It's difficult -- if not impossible -- to care for yourself emotionally if you haven't experienced enough emotional care. Without that foundation, relationships often become a search for validation, leading to patterns of disconnection, depression, anxiety, burnout. The primary function of Relational Analysis is to restore narcissistic supply -- providing the experience of being deeply seen, valued, understood, and cared about. When you internalize that experience, truly own it, you naturally extend it to others, and connections are made easily -- indicating neuronal pathways in your brain are rewired. --- # Do We Have to Talk About Feelings? - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/emotional-minute-17-do-we-have-to-talk-about-feelings/ Anna Frost, NCPsyA -- October 22, 2024 # Do We Have to Talk About Feelings? In some families, kids are not allowed to talk about emotional things, express negative sentiments, or complain. "We don't talk about feelings (or negative things) in this family -- so go to your room and don't come out until you're good company." If parents don't acknowledge their own feeling states, honest relating and connection with their child/ren will be impossible. But when parents are comfortable with all of their own feelings/emotional material, they create a template of acceptance, comfort, and capability for their children -- where talking about almost everything (including wild rides of intensity) can be pleasurable. Wouldn't it be great to overhear your kid someday say: "I could always talk to my dad." --- # Initial Bipolar II Diagnosis Was Unfounded - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/initial-bipolar-ii-diagnosis-was-unfounded/ # Initial Bipolar II Diagnosis Was Unfounded Anna suggested that my initial Bipolar II diagnosis was unfounded. She made the suggestion that I titrate my lamotrigine dosage down and observe. I have been unmedicated for about 3 weeks now and can say it has changed my world and reaffirmed the person I want to be in a most profound way. I feel stable and present to the extent I felt was totally lost when I first started taking mood stabilizers and antidepressants. I'm in the driver's seat again, and I'm proud to say Anna is one of the most vital pillars of my support system. I couldn't have come back into myself without her and our conversations. I recognize my situation won't apply to everybody and that making a decision to get off one's medication can be dangerous, to say the least. However, I'm confident in the advice I was given and feel more like myself than I have in years, so I intend to stick with it and live unsuppressed. Anna is an incredible person, and I can't recommend talking with her enough. --- # Transition Back Into Therapy Very Easy - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/transition-back-into-therapy-very-easy/ # Transition Back Into Therapy Very Easy When I moved to Boulder I was struggling to find a therapist I enjoyed and could assist me in certain aspects of life. Anna has been a great find and made the transition back into therapy very easy. I have continued to see Anna for months and recommend her to anyone who is struggling with their mental health. Overall, Anna is more than a therapist that I see every week. She's a confidant, a mentor, and a true guiding light through life's ups and downs. I completely recommend working with her. --- # Available When You Need Her - Boulder Consultation URL: https://boulderconsultation.com/call-in-person-zoom-facetime-2/ # Available When You Need Her Anna always finds time for our sessions and clearly works hard to accommodate as much as her schedule allows. Further, she is flexible in how our sessions are conducted; call, in-person, Zoom/FaceTime -- she can do it all. She is a great listener and always has thoughtful considerations to share. Her compassion, quick response time, approachable personality, and expertise in psychoanalysis shows her true passion for helping and understanding others. Not only does she demonstrate great knowledge, but she also provides a personal and supportive environment for her clients to open up in. --- ## NOTES The following 2 pages could not be fetched from the live site during compilation and were populated using content from the project knowledge base. Their content should be verified against the live URL before publishing. - https://boulderconsultation.com/initial-bipolar-ii-diagnosis-was-unfounded/ - https://boulderconsultation.com/call-in-person-zoom-facetime-2/