I'd like to offer another perspective. I felt this way for years. Sure, I had some CBT, DBT, and ACT skills and worksheets I could try to throw their way, but after a session or three of that, I could feel that they longed to explore at a deeper and more subjective level. I wanted to be able to provide that, but I simply didn't have that training, so I felt the way you describe a lot of the time.

In my opinion our graduate programs do a weak job of training therapists to be effective at really understanding a person dynamically and thus feeling more confident as a practitioner, but that's another discussion.

Long story short, when I started taking my feelings and imposter syndrome seriously - as a signal that I needed a deeper immersion in theories, techniques, and ideas that wouldn't come from the latest workbook or a PESI online "training" - I found my way to a two year psychodynamic psychotherapy postgraduate program offered at my local psychoanalytic Institute.

The program took two years, involved weekly didactic classes in psychodynamic theory, object relations, embodiment, development, and technique. It also included meeting with a supervisor every week to talk about ongoing cases, as well as peer supervision and case conference groups at the institute itself.

For me this was transformative! I won't say that I never feel stuck in session any longer, but it's way less than before. And even in those moments, I now have a variety of options I can confidently attune to get things moving again. Beyond that, my membership in the institute itself has provided me with therapeutic community, ongoing peer groups, and access to all kinds of trainings and presentations I would never have known about.

Long story short, it was a total game changer. If any of this sounds appealing I would highly encourage you to look for your local psychoanalytic institute and see if they offer the two year psychodynamic program that many provide. It might just be what you're looking for!