Psychoanalytic Therapy developed by Sigmund Freud

On several occasions we have talked about Sigmund Freud and the vital importance of him in the development of the 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.

Freud and the importance of the unconscious

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, this being the cause of a good part of 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 development life of the subject, or recognize these events as the genesis of some mental disorder or problem in the present. This type of therapy is usually considered 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 personality and emotions of the patient, improving their self-knowledge and 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 most of these therapists follow these basic principles:

• Psychological conflicts are the consequence of problems in the unconscious
• Symptoms are externalized by latent conditions
• The origin of these unconscious conflicts is usually found in unresolved problems during childhood, or in traumas that have been repressed
• Therapy makes these repressed thoughts aware, and it is at that moment when the patient can treat and overcome his fears and conditions.

Bases of intervention of Psychoanalytic Therapy

Psychoanalytic Therapy inquires about the drives and impulses that every human being keeps in his unconscious, and has as a goal to provide a situation of rediscovery of oneself in order to promote an improvement of the current mental state. In this process, the patient should better understand her past and the various life events that have affected her life, being able to recompose the beliefs and memories of him to overcome the conflicts that he drags.

The therapy is spread over several sessions, which can vary depending on multiple factors and circumstances. In any case, the environment of trust between patient and therapist (the "rapport") should enable the latter to speak openly about his latent thoughts, memories and emotions.

The psychoanalyst 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, repressed feelings will flourish and the patient will make his anxiety and fears dissipate.

Various therapeutic techniques

We have discussed the importance of the psychoanalyst paying attention to the patient's reflections and thoughts aloud. But the practitioner may also use a number of techniques and strategies to encourage the patient to express himself and thus be able to detect the possible causes of her fears and concerns.

Among these techniques, we can find the following.

1. Free association

The free association is a therapeutic technique that consist in which the patient expresses everything that goes through his mind, trying not to censor or cut back the torrent of memories, thoughts and ideas that he has at that moment. The role of the psychotherapist will be to promote this "fluent speech", with the aim that the patient returns to states psychological and emotional, from which it will be easier to detect the patterns of conflict that the subject may be feeling.

2. Transfer

The therapeutic transfer it is the process by which related emotions, beliefs, or feelings are transferred to people important in the patient's life (such as their parents, partners or siblings) towards the therapist. Although this transference process does not occur in all therapies, in cases where it does occur, the psychoanalyst should point out to the the existence of the phenomenon, giving it meaning and understanding and improving the way in which the patient relates to their beings dear.

3. Interpretation

One of the fundamental skills in the psychoanalyst is know how to interpret and draw correct conclusions through the patient's thoughts and stories. At appropriate times, 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 can be very helpful for people who feel recurring emotional worry, and also for individuals who want to get to know themselves a little better.

The feeling that we are able to better understand our beliefs, thoughts, emotions and feelings often results in a better selfconcept and wellness. 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 knowing, gradually and deeply, the unconscious and its manifestations in our behavior daily.

Limitations and criticisms

The circles of psychologists and psychotherapists often point out that the psychoanalytic approach may be more effective in cases of unspecific problems, such as the low self-esteem, the shyness, the insomnia and other sleep conditions, the sexual problems and the anxiety.

However, psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy remain controversial due to their limited empirical support. Thus, guidance professionals cognitive-behavioral coincide 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, the stress and the personality disorders.