The Psychoanalytic Therapy Developed By Sigmund Freud
On several occasions we have talked about Sigmund Freud and his vital importance in the development of psychoanalysis.
But in addition to the different theoretical constructs, Freud also promoted the Psychoanalytic Therapy a type of psychological treatment that draws on the influence and practical knowledge of the famous Austrian psychoanalyst.
The Psychoanalytic Therapy developed by Sigmund Freud highlights the influence of our unconscious mind on our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. In short, psychoanalysis emphasizes the importance of unconscious content in our mental health, which is the cause of many psychological conditions and disorders.
Psychoanalytic Therapy investigates the unconscious mind and explores the different experiences that patients had during their childhood, with the aim of discovering whether these events may have had an impact on the vital development of the subject, or recognizing these events as the genesis of some current mental disorder or problem. This type of therapy is usually long-term, and seeks a deep and lasting restructuring of the patient’s psyche. Unlike other therapeutic approaches (such as brief therapy), Psychoanalytic Therapy seeks to create relevant modifications in the patient’s personality and emotions, improving their self-knowledge and their quality of life.
Basic principles of Psychoanalytic Therapy
To know what this type of psychotherapy consists of, It is relevant that we review some of the principles and foundations of applied psychoanalysis. It is true that each psychoanalyst will address the needs of their patients in a unique and personalized way, but the majority of these therapists follow these elementary principles:
Psychoanalytic Therapy inquires about the drives and impulses that every human being keeps in their unconscious, and its goal is to provide a situation of rediscovery of oneself in order to promote an improvement in the current psychic state. In this process, The patient should better understand his or her past and the different life events that have affected his or her life. being able to rebuild their beliefs and memories to overcome the conflicts that they carry.
The therapy extends over several sessions, which can vary depending on multiple factors and circumstances. In any case, the atmosphere of trust between patient and therapist (the “rapport”) should enable the latter to speak openly about their thoughts, memories and latent emotions.
The psychoanalytic therapist will limit himself to listening to the patient’s stories and concerns, being attentive to patterns of thoughts or memories that may be of clinical interest. Throughout the therapeutic sessions, The repressed feelings will flourish and the patient will make their anxiety and fears dissipate.
Various therapeutic techniques
We have talked about the importance of the psychoanalyst paying attention to the patient’s reflections and thoughts out loud. But The professional can also use a series of techniques and strategies to encourage the patient to express himself and thus be able to detect the possible causes of his fears and concerns.
Among these techniques, we can find the following.
1. Free association
The free association It is a therapeutic technique that cIt insists that the patient expresses everything that goes through his mind, trying not to censor or cut back the torrent of memories. thoughts and ideas you have at that moment. The role of the psychotherapist will be to promote this “fluid speech”, with the aim of returning the patient to psychological and emotional states, from which it will be easier to detect the conflict patterns that the subject may be feeling.
The therapeutic transfer is the process by which emotions, beliefs or feelings linked to important people in the patient’s life (such as parents, partners or siblings) are transferred to the therapist. Although this transfer process does not occur in all therapies, in cases where it does occur, the psychoanalyst must make the patient notice the existence of the phenomenon, giving it meaning and understanding and improving the way in which the patient relates to his or her loved ones. .
3. Interpretation
One of the fundamental skills of the psychoanalyst is knowing how to interpret and draw accurate conclusions through the patient’s thoughts and stories. At appropriate moments, the therapist will ask and question some of the patient’s thoughts, reflectively discussing them. Psychoanalysis also interprets dreams, and their content can also be analyzed due to their relevance in the unconscious world.
What is Psychoanalytic Therapy for?
Psychoanalytic Therapy It can be very useful for people who feel a recurring emotional worry, and also for individuals who want to know themselves a little better.
The feeling that we are capable of better understanding our beliefs, thoughts, emotions and feelings usually results in better self-concept and well-being. However, Psychoanalytic Therapy is less recommended for cases in which a quick solution to a conflict or psychological difficulty is sought. Psychoanalysis, and especially the therapy developed by Sigmund Freud, is focused on gradually and deeply understanding the unconscious and its manifestations in our daily behavior.
Limitations and criticisms
Circles of psychologists and psychotherapists often point out that the psychoanalytic approach may be more effective in cases of non-specific problems such as low self-esteem, shyness, insomnia and other sleep disorders, sexual problems and anxiety.
However, psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Therapy remain controversial due to their limited empirical support. Thus, cognitive-behavioral orientation professionals agree in explaining that the psychoanalytic approach is less effective than CBT, which has scientifically demonstrated a high degree of success in cases of specific disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress and mental disorders. of personality.
