Cory Degnen, PsyD

Dr. Cory Degnen is a postdoctoral fellow at The Catalyst Center dedicated to depth-oriented psychotherapy and integrative care. With over a decade of experience in the field of mental health, Cory has worked in diverse clinical settings including hospitals, veterans’ services, private practice, and community programs. He brings a compassionate, thoughtful approach to his work with clients, drawing from psychodynamic theory, Jungian psychology, and contemporary depth practices. His clinical style emphasizes the importance of emotional awareness, meaning-making, and healing through relationships.

What Clients Can Expect

Clients working with Cory can expect a collaborative and supportive therapeutic relationship that creates space for deeper self-discovery. He views symptoms such as anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma as pointers toward the inner world and opportunities for healing. Rather than focusing solely on symptom reduction, Cory helps clients trace experiences back to their roots, uncovering how past and present dynamics shape identity, purpose, and relationships. He often integrates tools such as dream analysis, narrative therapy, exploration of disowned parts of the self, and attention to existential and spiritual themes. His clients describe him as a warm, steady presence who listens deeply and helps them connect with their emotional experience in a way that fosters growth and agency.

Cory’s Approach to Therapy

Cory’s therapeutic approach is rooted in the belief that lasting healing comes from understanding the deeper meaning of symptoms and cultivating a relationship with one’s inner world. Drawing on Jungian psychology, he creates a space where clients can explore unconscious dynamics, discover hidden parts of themselves, and develop a greater sense of purpose. He emphasizes emotional awareness not as something to be avoided or suppressed, but as a guide toward integration and growth. In his work, mindfulness, meditation, and symbolic approaches like dream analysis are woven together to help clients shift their relationship to suffering and move toward individuation. The care Cory provides is both relational and holistic, creating space for clients to connect with themselves on emotional, psychological, and spiritual levels.

Depth Psychology

Depth psychology provides the foundation for Cory’s work, emphasizing the exploration of unconscious processes, symbolic meaning, and the development of a more integrated sense of self. Rooted in Jungian theory, this approach invites clients to look beneath the surface of symptoms to uncover patterns, images, and stories that shape identity and purpose. It values curiosity, self-discovery, and engaging with the unknown as pathways to healing and growth.

As part of this work, Cory often incorporates dream analysis. He sees dreams as a natural expression of the unconscious and a bridge between inner and outer life. Exploring dream images and metaphors in therapy can reveal powerful insights and open new possibilities for understanding and transformation.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness are also central to Cory’s work. Drawing from his own writing and teaching on meditation, he emphasizes that the value of mindfulness is not in silencing the mind but in shifting one’s relationship to thoughts and emotions. He sees meditation as a practice of engaging with the natural struggle of the mind, cultivating patience, and transforming how we relate to inner experiences. Clients working with Cory may explore meditation and mindfulness as tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and spiritual growth.

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Cory is passionate about the evolving field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and is particularly interested in Ketamine-Assisted Therapy (KAT). He believes that KAT, when held within a safe and depth-oriented therapeutic frame, can open new possibilities for clients seeking healing from trauma, depression, or existential concerns. Cory plans to continue advanced training in KAT during his postdoctoral fellowship and integrate this work with his grounding in Jungian depth psychology and relational psychotherapy.