The Psychoanalytic Therapy developed by Sigmund Freud

On what principles is Freud's model of psychotherapy based?

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 Therapya type of psychological treatment that draws on the influence and practical knowledge of the famed Austrian psychoanalyst.

Freud and the importance of the unconscious

The Psychoanalytical Therapy developed by Sigmund Freud emphasizes the influence of our unconscious mind on our thoughts, attitudes and behavior.. In short, psychoanalysis emphasizes the importance of the unconscious content in our mental health, which is the cause of many psychological conditions and disorders.

Psychoanalytic therapy probes into 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 subject's life development, or to recognize these events as the genesis of a mental disorder or problem today. This type of therapy is usually long-term in nature, and seeks a deep and lasting seeks a deep and lasting restructuring of the patient's psyche.. Unlike other therapeutic approaches (such as brief therapy), Psychoanalytic Therapy aims to create relevant modifications in the patient's personality and emotions, improving his or her self-knowledge and quality of life.

Basic principles of Psychoanalytic Therapy

In order to know what this type of psychotherapy consists of, it is relevant to review some of the principles and fundamentals of applied psychoanalysis.. It is true that each psychoanalyst will address the needs of his or her patients in a unique and personalized way, but most of these therapists follow these elementary principles:

• Psychological conflicts are the consequence of problems in the unconscious.
• Symptoms are externalized because of latent conditions.
• The origin of these unconscious conflicts is usually to be found in unresolved problems during childhood or in traumas that have been repressed.
• The therapy makes these repressed thoughts conscious, and it is then that the patient can treat and overcome his fears and conditions.

Bases of Psychoanalytic Therapy intervention

Psychoanalytic therapy inquires about the drives and impulses that every human being keeps in his unconscious, and aims to provide a situation of rediscovery of oneself in order to promote an improvement of the current psychic state. In this process, the patient will have to better understand his past and the different vital events that have affected his life, being able to recompose his beliefs and memories to overcome the conflicts he is dragging along.and can recompose their beliefs and memories in order to overcome the conflicts they are carrying.

The therapy is spread over several sessions, which may vary depending on multiple factors and circumstances. In any case, the atmosphere of trust between patient and therapist (the "rapport") should make it possible for the latter to speak openly about his or her 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's anxiety and fears will be dissipated..

Various therapeutic techniques

We have talked about the importance of the psychoanalyst paying attention to the patient's reflections and thoughts aloud. But the professional can also use a series of techniques and strategies to promote the patient's to encourage the patient to express himself in order to detect the possible causes of his fears and worries.

Among these techniques, we can find the following.

1. Free association

The free association is a therapeutic technique that consists in the patient expressing everything that goes through his mind, trying not to censor or cut out the torrent of memories, thoughts and ideas that he has at that moment.and ideas that he/she has 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 patterns of conflict that the subject may be feeling.

2. Transference

The therapeutic transfer is the process by which emotions, beliefs or feelings associated with important people in the patient's life (such as parents, partners or siblings) are transferred to the therapist.. Although this transference process does not occur in all therapies, in those cases in which it does occur, the psychoanalyst should make the patient aware of 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 to know how to to know how to interpret and draw accurate conclusions from the patient's thoughts and accounts.. At appropriate times, the therapist will question and challenge some of the patient's thoughts and reflexively discuss them. Psychoanalysis also interprets dreams, and the content of dreams can also be the object of analysis because of their relevance to the unconscious world.

What is Psychoanalytic Therapy for?

Psychoanalytic therapy can be very useful for people who feel a recurrent emotional preoccupation, and also for individuals who want 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 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 knowing, gradually and deeply, the unconscious and its manifestations in our daily behavior.

Limitations and criticisms

Psychologists and psychotherapists circles often point out that the psychoanalytic approach may be most effective in cases of nonspecific problems, such as low self-esteem, shyness, insomnia and other sleep disorders, sexual problems and anxiety.such as low self-esteem, shyness, insomnia and other sleep disorders, sexual problems and anxiety.

However, psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Therapy remain controversial because of their poor empirical support. Thus, professionals of cognitive-behavioral orientation 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 personality disorders.