What is Psychoanalytic Therapy?AboutPsychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud around the turn of the 20th century
(though there are layers to it), and it became the first method of the talking therapies. It is still remarkably relevant, as it lays the basis for any psychodynamic therapy (i.e., those analyzing the "here and now"). Since its foundation, it has integrated more modern teaching as well as developed with time. The basis of the analysis has been the client's exploring him/herself by talking, that is, by providing the unconscious material in a verbal form. Then you and your therapist will explore it together. The method helps address inner conflicts, relationship issues, negative emotions and helps develop stronger mental capacities in order to adapt to the challenges of life.
Classic vs Modern The difference between classic psychoanalysis and modern psychoanalytic therapy is that meetings take place less frequently. Early psychoanalytic patients went to get help for up to 5 sessions a week. Nowadays, we meet once or twice a week, depending on your needs. Early psychoanalytic patients lay on a couch with their backs turned to the analyst. Nowadays, we usually meet face-to-face and talk online while both of us sit. Although, you may choose to lay down, it's up to you.
Free associations Free associations is a way of examining the unconscious in which you as the client talk freely without censoring yourself. It helps in both defining what is relevant for a specific session and identifying psychological defenses that prevent you from speaking freely and exploring what is significant for you here and now. Some examples of such defenses are rationalization, intellectualization, repression, splitting and dissociating. This method has many has numerous variations: you may free-associate by painting, you can talk what comes to mind with closed eyes, you can utilize toys, figurines, or white-board magnets. The essential premise has remained the same since it was introduced to the psychotherapeutic world.
Analysis Analysis and interpretation are two methods of dealing with what the client is presenting. The presence of a therapist is crucial when addressing psychological issues we cannot hear or evaluate our nonverbal language because we simply do not notice it. TThe therapist assists you in analyzing what you truly want to express, what nonverbal signals you are giving, and what is being disguised, which you may discuss throughout the session. Using analysis, we work on identifying your inner conflicts and blocks and devise solutions to resolve or integrate them.
Limited number of sessions or open-ended therapy? It is up to the client to decide when therapy should end. The point at which treatment terminates is usually a significant element of the therapy itself, and as such, it may and should be discussed with the therapist as therapy progresses. Treatment may begin with 3–5 preliminary sessions during which you determine whether to continue or not. If the answer is yes, the next stage is open-ended therapy for as long as you feel you need it. Working in open-ended format has numerous advantages, especially when working with anxiety, and it gives you as the client greater control over the process.
The silent parts As a part of the therapeutic process we may talk about when you want or feel the need to be silent and what's underlying it. It can sometimes signal resistance to a potential change. We may talk about the "silent feelings" that accompany therapy, such as fear, anxiety, anger but also the positive parts: joy, satisfaction and expectations for the future. We may also discuss your dreams. It is recommended that you write them down since the unconscious communicates with us via dreams. The analysis of non-verbal language is important in therapy. It is often not just what you say, but also how you say it, since it conveys your true feelings. Your therapist assists you in seeing and analyzing your nonverbal manifestations, as well as paying attention to what is happening in your body as a reaction to what is happening in your mind.
Therapy and therapist dependencyTherapy can assist you in making autonomous decisions and taking full charge of your life. That is why a psychologist/therapist would not respond directly to your inquiries about what you should or should not do. He/she would ask you to explore the question jointly so that you could find your best answer. A sense of independence is one of the beneficial results of counseling/therapy. When you go to therapy, you learn to be free and make independent decisions in your life, among other things. It also fosters responsibility. During treatment, you may develop "positive dependence," which implies that you construct a connection with the therapist in order to have an additional resource in your life in the form of therapy. You, as a client, determine when you want to leave therapy, thus control over this dependence is also in your hands.
Therapy Vs Coaching In therapy we talk about the here and now. Coaching, on the other hand, focuses on future objectives and plans, as well as how to achieve them. Therapy concentrates on how you live in the present, what has led to it in the past, whether you are happy now and what can be changed in order for you to become a happier and more fulfilled person person. The way you experience the here and now determines the quality of your life. In regular therapy sessions, this information comes out in the form of feelings, expectations, transferential relationships between you and the therapist, memories, fantasies, dreams, and manifestations of psychological defenses. Coaching allows you to come when you have a particular goal, objective, or question, whereas therapy allows you to come regularly even if you do not know what issue to address at a specific session. In that case, you talk about whatever comes to mind. The therapeutic process and its regularity help you stay in touch with yourself, face challenges instead of putting them off, and address the feelings that surface during the therapeutic/counseling process.
When will you see results? Therapy helps gradually and improves things progressively. We discuss your progress as we move along. The lack of change, if it occurs for some reason, needs to be discussed and addressed. If you start to feel worse, it is also not unheard of and it becomes the subject of discussion as well. A good and healing therapeutic process gives tangible results, and you should feel them. When it comes to therapy/counseling, one should not anticipate immediate results, and the length of treatment differs from person to person. However, relying on progress and expecting changes is a good, constructive and sensible approach.
Can you really change yourself? Throughout our sessions we aim to comprehend your feelings and emotions. Though one can not totally eliminate unpleasant emotions, but one can learn to control them. Therapy is not about altering who you are; rather, it is about helping you become and stay whole, integrated, to value yourself and treat yourself with respect, while building fulfilling relationships with others. It is worth noting that our flaws are also our strengths. For instance, if you are overly sensitive and helpful, you may have difficulty maintaining your your boundaries. However, the benefit of the same attribute is that you may be incredibly empathic and understanding, which many others appreciate deeply.
Therapeutic boundaries We meet at constant intervals. In this stable approach, therapy establishes a positive and reliable routine in your life. You always know when your next meeting is, when it begins, and when it finishes. It provides reassurance and confidence, and it allows you to reflect on yourself between meetings and plan what to bring to the next appointment. Boundaries are essential in therapy. After some preliminary meetings, should you require them, we follow a contract that describes, how we work, as well as our mutual rights and obligations. It simplifies and secures therapeutic work.
What should you expect from your therapist? It is safe to assume that your therapist will show empathy, curiosity, intuition, and a desire to help you. It is also worth emphasizing that effective treatment is based on the client's drive to work on him/herself, and on their curiosity about themselves.
Have additional questions? I will be happy to respond. Contact me using the form below.
