About & Method | Jacob Sadan - Therapist in San Diego, CA

About Jacob Sadan

As an associate psychotherapist and life coach with extensive training in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), I bring both clinical expertise and genuine compassion to every therapeutic relationship.

My journey into therapy was shaped by a deep conviction that people are capable of profound change when given the right support. I've witnessed countless individuals transform their lives by accessing emotions they've long suppressed and finding healing in unexpected places.

Whether you're seeking help for anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or simply want to understand yourself more deeply, I'm committed to providing a safe, confidential space where real change can happen.

"Real Therapy for Real Life"

ISTDP: Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy

ISTDP is a powerful, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping you access and experience emotions that have been buried or avoided, often since early life. Unlike traditional talk therapy that can take years, ISTDP is designed to create meaningful change in a shorter timeframe.

How ISTDP Works

At its core, ISTDP recognizes that many psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and chronic relationship problems, are often the result of unconscious defenses against painful emotions. By gently but directly addressing these defenses, we can access the underlying feelings and resolve long-standing patterns.

What Makes ISTDP Different

Focuses on emotional experiencing, not just intellectual understanding
Actively works to break through psychological defenses
Creates rapid, lasting change through deep emotional processing
Extensively researched with strong evidence for effectiveness
Addresses root causes rather than just managing symptoms

Conditions ISTDP Can Help

Anxiety disorders and panic attacks
Depression and persistent sadness
Relationship difficulties and attachment issues
Psychosomatic symptoms (physical symptoms with emotional origins)
Self-defeating patterns and self-sabotage
Grief and loss
Trauma and PTSD

Faith-Integrated Psychotherapy

An Orthodox Christian Approach to Mental Health

For clients who desire it, I offer therapy that thoughtfully integrates Orthodox Christian spirituality with evidence-based psychological treatment. This approach recognizes that for many people, faith is not separate from mental health. It is central to understanding who we are and how we heal.

The Orthodox Christian Lens

Orthodox Christianity has a rich tradition of understanding the human person, including the relationship between body, soul, and spirit, the nature of passions and virtues, and the path toward theosis (union with God). This ancient wisdom offers profound insights that complement modern psychological understanding.

What Faith-Integrated Therapy Looks Like

Respecting your faith as a source of strength and meaning
Integrating spiritual practices when appropriate and desired
Exploring how faith intersects with psychological struggles
Addressing spiritual challenges alongside emotional ones
Drawing on the wisdom of the Church Fathers and Orthodox tradition
Maintaining proper boundaries between therapy and spiritual direction

For Everyone

While I offer faith-integrated therapy for those who want it, my practice warmly welcomes people of all faiths and no faith. The core principles of compassionate, effective therapy remain the same regardless of spiritual orientation.

Serene spiritual scene representing faith and healing

My Philosophy

I believe that every person has an innate capacity for healing and growth. My role is not to fix you, because you are not broken. Rather, it is to create conditions where you can access your own wisdom, feel what you have been avoiding, and make the changes you have always known you needed to make.

Real therapy is not always comfortable. It requires honesty, courage, and a willingness to face difficult truths. But if you are ready to do that work, the rewards (greater peace, deeper relationships, authentic self-expression) are profound.