Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis
Written by Bonnie Gifford

Last updated October 2021 | Next review due October 2023
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Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic process focusing on an individual's unconscious and deep-
rooted thoughts. Based on the assumption that we all have unconscious thoughts, feelings,
desires, and memories, psychoanalysis works with the idea that our current behaviour,
thoughts and feelings are directly influenced by our childhood and past experiences.
Over time, these can become repressed, and may manifest themselves as depression or other
negative symptoms. It is only through having a cathartic (healing) experience that you can move
forward.
What is psychoanalysis?
Defined as a set of therapeutic techniques and psychological theories, psychoanalysis was
developed by leading psychotherapist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis therapy is widely used to
help people recognise and understand how unconscious factors may affect their relationships
and patterns of behaviour. Through techniques such as free association and dream analysis,
individuals can learn how to interpret deeply buried, complex memories or experiences that
may cause distress and prevent them from living life to the fullest.
Ultimately, psychoanalysis aims to foster deep-seated change and emotional development -

particularly in those who experience limiting psychological disorders. Clients should see
improvements in their mental and physical health, as well as their sense of well-being and their
ability to manage their lives more effectively.
How does psychoanalysis work?

There are four basic tenets (key ideas) that guide psychoanalysis therapy. These are:
 Psychological problems are rooted in the unconscious mind.

 Symptoms that are showing are the result of hidden issues.
 Unresolved issues or repressed trauma are typical causes of issues.
 Treatment is designed to bring the repressed conflict into consciousness. This allows you
to make the necessary changes to overcome them.
It is thought that by bringing your unconscious into conscious awareness, you can find relief
from psychological distress.
Psychoanalysis relies heavily on other factors, including a strong relationship between you and
your therapist. As with many talking therapies, a psychoanalyst must provide a private,
confidential setting in which you can foster a trusting, authentic relationship together. Your
therapist should convey both insight and emotional understanding. This helps to ensure that
they offer a non-judgemental, supportive stance throughout the entire process.
The relationship you have with your therapist will help with one of the core processes of
psychoanalysis, "transference". Transference takes place when you freely talk about your
feelings and thoughts towards important people in your life. Through doing this, you are
essentially living out your unconscious dynamics through the connection with your therapist.
As you begin to gradually uncover what difficulties you are experiencing and underlying issues,
your therapist can help you to clarify these. This enables you to refine, correct, reject, or add
further thoughts and feelings. Together with your therapist, you will analyse these insights,
thereby creating a real-time sense of the client's unconscious dynamics. Eventually, you will be
able to start changing negative patterns and removing any limiting behaviours.
How long does psychoanalysis take?
Typically delivered long-term (over 12 sessions), psychoanalysis requires time and commitment

to see lasting results. The longer time frame sets psychoanalysis apart from psychoanalytic and
psychodynamic therapies. These two branches of counselling share similarities in approach but
are generally delivered short-term.
An intense form of therapy that requires commitment from everyone involved, individuals are
typically required to attend regular sessions for years (though this will depend on your
individual needs and personal circumstances). Through having regular sessions together, this
should allow more in-depth exploration and interpretation of unconscious patterns.
What methods are used in psychoanalysis?
Many different techniques are used throughout psychoanalysis sessions. This enables you and
your therapist to make sense of deeply buried memories and experiences that come up during
therapy. Although free association (where you speak freely about any topic you feel
comfortable with) tends to come first, all techniques used are an important part of fostering
change and development.
Dream analysis
Freud believed that all people learn through myths, jokes, fairytales, poems and linguistic
languages - all of which feature symbols that are also present in our dreams. In psychoanalysis,
dream analysis involves the interpretation of these symbols to help us understand the
unconscious mind and indicate any areas of trouble that need to be investigated. For example,
you may be asked to recall any recurring or traumatic dreams that you have, so your therapist
can identify specific areas of concern.
Dream analysis is a technique based on Freud’s idea that our dreams are a disguised way of
fulfilling a wish. This disguise is thought to be caused by repression, which is caused by our past
experiences. Going beyond simply analysing the content of dreams, while Freud didn’t explore
the cross-culture different significances of dreams, therapists using this method will often be
flexible in their interpretation.
Word association
Typically used during the early stages of psychoanalysis therapy, word association (also known
as free association) involves the therapist giving a stimulus word, which you reply with the first
thing that comes to mind. This allows your unconscious thoughts to enter your conscious,
which helps prepare for further investigation later on in therapy.
Projective tests
In some cases, psychoanalysts will present clients with a series of abstract images and will invite
them to explain what they see, or create a story based on the images. Freud believed this
technique allows the unconscious to become conscious - helping you to unlock your inner
thoughts and desires. A common projective test used in psychoanalysis today is the blot test.
Invented by Hermann Rorschach in 1928 this involves 10 specially-designed inkblot images.
Freudian slips (para praxes)
Freud believed unconscious thoughts and feelings could transfer to the conscious mind through
para praxes - minor slips of the tongue or pen. These 'Freudian slips' (as they are commonly
known) can reveal your real thoughts and motivations - often those which are consciously
suppressed as a result of past experiences and/or memories. Psychoanalysts take the view that
every slip is significant and can reveal something important, so they keep a close watch for
these during therapy.
Should I try psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis is a highly individualised therapy. It can help to treat a range of psychological
disorders and self-destructive patterns of behaviour that may be impacting your quality of life.
It does, however, tend to be more beneficial for someone who - no matter how incapacitated at
the time - is potentially a sturdy individual. This person may have already secured important life
satisfactions such as a good career and healthy relationships, but is nonetheless greatly
troubled by long-standing symptoms and problems. These may include depression, anxiety,
sexual issues, personality disorders or physical symptoms that do not have any demonstrable
underlying cause.
This type of therapy can help those of all ages, and can even benefit those who are just curious
to know a bit more about themselves and how their mind works. Essentially, it is for people
who have concerns that interfere with the way they want to live their lives. Psychoanalysis
allows them to address their internal conflicts and increase self-understanding and freedom
from latent thoughts and patterns of behaviour that are limiting life satisfaction.
While psychoanalysis can help with a broad range of issues, it can be particularly helpful for
those experiencing depression or some anxiety disorders. If you are looking for a quick solution,
it may not be the right option for you.
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/psychoanalysis.html#howdoespsychoanalysiswork
Psychoanalytic: Psychoanalytic counseling theories hold that psychological problems result from

the present-day influence of unconscious psychological drives or motivations stemming from
past relationships and experiences. Dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns from the past
have become unconscious "working models" that guide clients toward continued dysfunctional
thought and behavior in their present lives. Psychoanalytic counselors strive to help their clients
become aware of these unconscious working models so that their negative influence can be
understood and addressed. Some currently preferred therapies grounded in psychoanalytic
theory include psychoanalysis, attachment therapy, object relations therapy and Adlerian
therapy.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/psychoanalysis#bhc-content

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Psychoanalysis

Written by Bonnie Gifford

Ultimately, psychoanalysis aims to foster deep-seated change and emotional development -

How does psychoanalysis work?

 Psychological problems are rooted in the unconscious mind.

How long does psychoanalysis take?

Typically delivered long-term (over 12 sessions), psychoanalysis requires time and commitment

Should I try psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalytic: Psychoanalytic counseling theories hold that psychological problems result from

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