Brief overview
- Description: Depth psychological method for the treatment of mental problems, based on the psychological concept of Siegmund Freud
- Application: Mental illnesses, processing of stressful experiences, resolving mental conflicts, further development of the personality
- Procedure: Dialogue between therapist and patient, analytical reflection on life’s journey
- Risks: Lengthy and labor-intensive, very painful experiences are also processed, which must be absorbed by the therapist, much personal initiative required
What is psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis is a psychotherapeutic method for the treatment of mental problems and disorders. It is also used to explore and develop one’s own personality.
Psychoanalysis is considered the original form of psychotherapeutic treatment. Since its development at the end of the 19th century, it has been further developed many times. Today it belongs to the depth psychological methods along with other forms of therapy.
Lingering conflicts from childhood
Psychoanalysis can be traced back to the Viennese neurologist Sigmund Freud. Freud assumed that mental problems arise from unconscious conflicts that go back to childhood. According to Freud, mental illness symptoms were the expression of repressed, painful memories.
This understanding of illness and treatment is one of the essential elements of psychoanalysis. In contrast to behavior therapy, whose approach is based on experiencing in the here and now, the focus of psychoanalysis is more on uncovering conflicts.
Basic principles of psychoanalysis
The basis of psychoanalytic techniques is always the conversation between therapist and patient. The patient reflects on his or her life path and can thereby identify unconscious conflicts from the past. Inner conflicts that the person is not aware of can cause psychological suffering.
If the needs of a child – for example, for security – are not sufficiently met by the parents, the child suffers. By repressing the need and learning to cope without the desired security, it can alleviate the suffering.
However, this unconscious conflict can cause problems later in life, for example, when the person is unable to accept closeness and security even in a partnership. The need is still there, but the fear of rejection may stand in the way. As a result, psychological symptoms can occur that express the emotional pain.
A psychoanalysis can take place in an individual setting, but also in a group as a group analysis.
Psychoanalysis has developed continuously since Freud. Not only have new concepts been added, but treatment concepts for specific clinical pictures have emerged that go beyond Freud’s ideas.
Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis
To better understand psychoanalysis, some knowledge of Freud’s theories is essential. They form an important foundation of psychoanalysis. Here is a selection of significant theories.
The structural model of the psyche: the id, the ego, and the superego.
Freud structured the psyche into three parts.
The id
Freud referred to the unconscious part, which includes needs and drives, as the “id.” The id exists from birth and demands immediate gratification. An infant who is hungry immediately begins to cry if the hunger is not satisfied. Part of the personality is determined by the “id.” The id functions according to the pleasure principle and is not interested in social norms.
The Superego
The “superego” represents the counterpart to the id. As a moral authority, the superego represents the values of society. Often it is also a matter of commandments or prohibitions that a person has inherited from his parents. The norms of the superego are partly conscious and partly unconscious.
Between the id and the superego stands the “I” as mediator. The ego is formed during childhood. It contains the awareness of oneself and reality. The ego mediates between the libidinal impulses of the id and the moral demands of the superego.
Freud assumed that mental problems resulted from early conflicts between these different parts of the psyche. His goal was for the patient to become acquainted with the different parts and thereupon to be able to take responsibility for his own life.
The topographical model
Freud distinguished between the unconscious, the preconscious and the conscious.
- The unconscious often includes unpleasant memories or even desires that the person does not want to allow himself.
- The preconscious are memories that the person can become aware of if they pay attention to them.
- The conscious are the thoughts that a person is currently aware of and processing.
In psychoanalytic therapy, these divisions of consciousness play a significant role. In threatening or painful situations, it can be vital for survival not to feel feelings or thoughts consciously. An important defense mechanism is repression. Unpleasant feelings or urges can be suppressed to protect us.
Psychoanalysis for personality development
According to the psychotherapy guidelines, classical psychoanalysis is not considered a form of therapy, but rather a further training of the personality. This is because psychoanalysis has no clear treatment goals to be achieved. The analyst and the patient explore the patient’s life history. In the sessions, the themes that are revealed are worked on.
Further development of psychoanalysis
Various methods have subsequently evolved from psychoanalysis, including analytic psychotherapy and depth psychology-based psychotherapy.
When does one do psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis can help people recognize and understand their unconscious motives and behavior patterns. When current life situations cause suffering and psychological symptoms, a look behind the scenes can be helpful.
The motivation and willingness of the patient is important for the success of psychotherapy. The psychotherapist does not give advice or concrete instructions. The patient is challenged to reflect on himself.
What does one do during psychoanalysis?
In the classic setting of psychoanalysis, the patient lies on a couch and the therapist sits behind the couch so that the patient cannot see him. This positioning shows that the therapist takes on a rather reserved role, which is intended to help the patient talk without inhibition. The patient is not influenced by the therapist’s facial expressions and should concentrate on his inner processes without distraction.
In modern psychoanalysis, the therapist takes a more active role. The relationship between the patient and the therapist is an important tool of psychoanalysis. In the contact, the therapist can recognize relational patterns of the patient. In this way, a relationship to the here and now and the current problems is also created in psychoanalytic procedures.
Free association
A central technique in psychoanalysis is free association. The therapist asks the patient to say everything that goes through his mind. The therapist then suggests what unconscious content lies behind the associations. A well-known psychoanalysis test designed to stimulate association is the so-called Rorschach test. The therapist shows the patient inkblot patterns. Depending on what the patient recognizes in the pattern, the therapist makes statements about the patient’s personality.
Transfer
If this wish was not fulfilled, he tries to get this affection from others, in the case from the therapist. The therapist must recognize this transference and convey it to the patient. This is also a method of revealing unconscious conflicts.
Psychoanalysis is strongly concerned with the individual person. The analyst is also involved in the process as an individual. Nevertheless, he must not lose the objective view and must be able to deal with the often complex feelings of the patient that arise.
For the therapist also has unconscious parts within him. Therefore, it can happen that the therapist develops, for example, a dislike or also affection for the patient during the therapy process. In psychoanalysis, this phenomenon is called countertransference. A good self-reflection of the therapist is necessary to recognize such processes. For this reason, before being allowed to practice his profession, the therapist must undergo psychoanalysis himself.
Duration psychoanalysis
What are the risks of psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis differs from other psychotherapies primarily in that it takes a long time. Individuals who find it difficult to engage in a longer-term process may become frustrated and drop out of psychotherapy early. This form of therapy also requires a certain willingness to look at one’s life history and reflect. Quick solutions and advice are not a part of psychoanalysis, but it does allow for a deeper understanding of oneself.
Psychoanalysis: Criticism
Classical psychoanalysis is based on the theories of Freud. These theories are sometimes strongly questioned nowadays. There have been criticisms of Freud’s theories primarily because they cannot be scientifically tested. For example, the assertion that there is the id, the ego and the superego can neither be proven nor disproven.
Secondly, Freud’s ideas were influenced by the spirit of the times. In his time, the subject of sexuality was strongly tabooed. With his drive theory, he broke this taboo and valued sexuality as a decisive drive in life. Freud’s theory is particularly criticized for the strong emphasis on sexual needs, which according to Freud already influence actions in childhood.
However, classical psychoanalysis according to Freud is hardly performed nowadays. Psychoanalysis has evolved and adapted its methods and techniques. After psychoanalysis was criticized for a long time, studies now show that this form of therapy achieves good effects in the long term.
What do I have to keep in mind after a psychoanalysis session?
Psychoanalysis sessions are often very emotionally demanding for the patient. For example, painful memories from the past may surface. It is therefore advisable not to throw oneself into the stress of everyday life immediately afterwards, but to take time for processing.
If anxieties arise toward the end of psychoanalysis, these should be communicated to the therapist. Since analytic therapies go on for a long period of time, many patients feel left alone at the end of psychoanalysis and miss their therapist.
Very often there is also a fear of relapse. These worries and self-doubts must be discussed in good time. It may be advisable to gradually phase out psychoanalysis and to hold the sessions at increasingly longer intervals.
