What is psychoanalysis?

Very popular nowadays, psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that uses dialogue to help people better understand their feelings. Developed by the physician Sigmund Freud, the proposal is that the psychologist or psychoanalyst addresses specific issues in the life of the patient, inducing him to talk and thus working together to resolve the issues.

There are, however, different lines within these concepts of resolution, since it is a field still in expansion. But, in general, with the theoretical basis that professionals have, counseling is done and, with the consent of the patient, he decides whether to follow or not. The treatment can be used for various disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Learn more about psychoanalysis now.

Meaning of psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that uses dialogue so that the patient can understand what he feels and how he needs to treat it. However, it is not just a conversation, but a deepening based on theoretical schools, which have the function to explain these advents in the life of each one. Check now a little of its history, how it is done and, of course, a little about his 'father', Sigmund Freud!

Origin of psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis has its first bases firmed in the late nineteenth century, when it is thought by Sigmund Freud and some collaborators. His story is fundamental to understand the beginnings of the therapy technique, since it begins with Freud's curiosity for hypnosis.

The idea was to treat psychic disturbances in a way that the patient can also see the evolution of his clinical picture. Furthermore, psychoanalysis is not an invasive procedure, like those that were used before its creation, such as electroshock therapy.

Freud, the father of psychoanalysis

Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who, after some years of investigation into the human mind, developed a method for the control and treatment of psychic illnesses. His primary focus was the treatment of people with hysteria.

He starts his studies searching for renowned physicians who already use hypnosis in such treatments, like the French physician Charcot. The theory of both was that hysteria was not hereditary or organic, as most of the diseases, but psychological.

In this way, the idea was to have access to the psychological of those people, but how? Through access to the unconscious, which was already much talked about and known by Charcot. From this, he began a relentless search to understand the mind and theorize the pathological causes that led people to hysteria, known today as dissociative compulsive disorder.

The unconscious and psychoanalysis

By accessing the unconscious part, psychoanalysis then enters another level of the mind, since in it are the memories, impulses and repressed desires. As the name suggests, one does not always know what is there, since it is a part of the mind that we have no control over.

Often some part of the unconscious needs help, but mistakenly sends signals to the conscious part, without knowing why. And when you have access, through psychoanalysis, you begin to notice what is wrong at the beginning, not the symptom. Someone's fear of the dark, for example, may have a relationship with a childhood memory, which is there.

Psychoanalysis is based on accessing the unconscious in a conscious way to try to repair the damage and thus get rid of disorders and diseases.

What psychoanalysis is for

In general, psychoanalysis can be used for several types of treatments against psychic disturbances. However, through the techniques learned within it, it becomes easier to understand and deal with feelings and emotions, besides, of course, the conflicts and crises that everyone constantly goes through.

When you open your mind in a conversation with a therapist, you can observe your problems and anxieties in a more holistic way. And, combined with the training of this professional, their techniques and ways of dealing with each situation, everything becomes easier to be solved. It is a great tool for self-knowledge, since it is closely linked to what we feel.

How psychoanalysis is done

In a comfortable environment, an office, provided by the therapist, the patient sits or lies down on a couch, and begins to talk about his or her feelings. Sessions last from 45 minutes to 1 hour, usually once a week. The frequency is defined between the psychologist (or psychiatrist) and the patient.

Avoiding eye contact so as not to become shy, the patient is encouraged to talk about specific points in his life, such as childhood or some traumatic period. Each agenda can last as long as necessary and must be resumed in the next session.

As the sessions go on, the psychoanalyst, along with the patient, will get to the heart of the situation. The therapist analyzes more than he speaks, while listening to the patient and his feelings that, many times, are new even to him.

Contemporary Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis has been improving over time and addressing common themes. One notable point that it began to bring up frequently over time was the understanding that an important part of our identity is created in early childhood and that, in this way, many of the acquired traumas also come from there.

With this in mind, in this contemporary model of psychoanalysis, the patient is induced to go against these primary - or primitive - emotions, to try to understand today. It is a kind of conscious regression. Thus, the patient revisits places and memories from childhood, searching for answers that will help him in the current stage of life.

The professional of psychoanalysis

The psychoanalytic professional should preferably be a person graduated in psychology or psychiatry, although this is not a mandatory requirement for professionals in the area. This psychoanalyst adopts a theoretical line of work with the patients, which differ widely among themselves.

So, it is always good to research which lines you like to work with professionals who agree with them. The most common is Freud's. Another important requirement is that the psychoanalyst, during or after their training, must undergo clinical supervision. This is very important before any contact with patients.

Main schools of psychoanalysis

As time went by, new studies were carried out and new proofs were revealed. Thus, some other psychoanalysts and psychiatrists began to incorporate lines of work, based on their empirical studies.

Thus, some schools were founded within the psychoanalysis and, each of them, works in a unique way. Check out the main schools of psychoanalysis and how they work in the resolution of disorders and psychic diseases!

Sigmund Freud

Ego. It is with this word that the school of the father of psychoanalysis is structured. For him, ego is the part that links us to reality. This is because it is the intermediary between the superego and the id, having the fundamental role of bringing us to real life and appealing to common sense.

The id, in a simple way, would be the unconscious part of the mind, responsible for desires and instincts. And, without the ego, we would act in an almost irrational way. Finally, the superego is the completeness of us. Thus, Freud's proposal is to work with the ego to access the id, which is where the origin of traumas and psychic disturbances are.

Jacques Lacan

For Lacan, the human psyche is understood through signs, which create form from language. Simply put, Lacan said that our inner self cohabits a world that is already ready and when it brings its personal baggage, the world is seen in a unique way by it.

Thinking in this perspective, the psychoanalyst and philosopher defends that one cannot analyze someone by a single look, because the individual reacts to the stimulus of language and symbols in the way that he can and that he understands. The plural of significance is fundamental in the analyses of the Lacanian school.

Donald Winnicott

Donald Winnicott brings an approach more focused on childhood, where he states that the most important bond established is that of mother and child. Winnicott says that the primary environment of a baby needs to be welcoming and that this first social contact is fundamental for the construction of who he will become.

When the psychoanalyst talks about the relationship with the mother, he says that the mother is the major pillar of a baby's life, having an absurdly large role in the construction of that being.

Melanie Klein

Melanie Klein's study is based on children. She devoted herself to studying a group of children and how their minds behaved when they felt fear, anguish or played out fantasies. Klein's study is counter to Freud's thinking, who claimed that the primordial instinct was sexual.

For Melanie, the primary stimulus is aggressiveness. She links various situations and their consequences in Klein's theory. The psychoanalyst also talks about the importance of childhood fantasies, which are a manifestation of the unconscious. And, specifically in childhood, they always bring the mother with great protagonism, most of the time as being much more 'cruel' than she really is.

Wilfred Bion

The theory developed by Bion is that of Thinking. For him, the human being deals with every kind of bad situation by fleeing to his own thoughts, where he gets refuge and comfort, creating a parallel reality. In his theory, he defines thinking in two acts: thoughts and the ability to think.

We want something, we think about it, but if we can't carry out that thought, we become frustrated and sad. Then we are taken to a scenario, created by our mind, where that action has become reality. In other words, we go into denial inside our minds about something we thought about but can't achieve.

Psychoanalytic methods

In psychoanalysis there are some methods of implementation that facilitate the final goal of treatment. As it is a therapy for multiple causes, make a safe and warm environment is very important for the patient to feel well. In the end, what matters is him. It can, for example, be done in group. Check now the main types of analysis and what are their best applications!

Psychodynamics

Psychodynamics is a study that takes into consideration the human reaction according to interpersonal interactions. In a session of psychodynamic psychoanalysis it is common, for example, that the person stands facing the therapist, making a whole difference in the subsequent conversation.

The method is used mainly in the treatment of more intimate problems, such as anxiety and depression. This technique, which is generally perceived as a challenge, helps in the creation of the doctor-patient relationship, making the process closer.

Psychodrama

Used a lot in drama classes, psychodrama is a technique that uses fictional scenes to create real emotions, based on your experiences and the other's, making dealing with feelings seem easier, because the "I" is not me, but the other.

A central theme is used and, in groups or pairs, the characters are given. In that situation which, in the great majority of the cases, is an experience of one of those involved, the patient is stimulated to think as if he/she were another person. And thus, to understand the whole situation from another perspective.

Children's

The technique of psychoanalysis used with children is a little different from that used with adults, since it is more complicated to maintain a logical dialogue with children. Therefore, children are encouraged to play, draw and perform some activities. It is a way to speak their language.

While they are doing something else, the psychoanalyst tries to talk to them. Drawings are also often used, since some children show their abuse and trauma in this way. With adolescents, the approach can be quite similar, but varying a little in the activities performed.

Couples

Psychoanalysis can also be used by couples in crisis in their relationship. The technique is simple: both talk about their feelings and how they feel the relationship is going and, with the advice and dynamics proposed by the psychoanalyst, the couple is encouraged to think of ways to solve the problem.

The idea is that, by talking about what they feel, with an intermediary, they will be able to adjust and solve punctual problems. In addition, the psychoanalyst has a role of appeaser in this scenario, stimulating patients to make decisions.

Psychoanalytic groups

Perhaps group therapy is one of the best-known types, thanks to American movies, which show this type of technique a lot. But in general, group therapy is done to treat possible common disorders, such as alcoholism, for example.

The proposal is that each one talks about how they are feeling and, in this way, share with the group. Since they are together because they are living close situations, the experience of one can help the other. In addition, in the sessions, they are encouraged to support each other. A great dynamic.

Benefits of psychoanalysis

The benefits of psychoanalysis are many, since it does not always need to solve a "problem". Understanding about one's own mind is fundamental to live well with it. Doing analysis sessions can help, even, to have more confidence in yourself, because confidence is born from knowledge.

And she provides this knowledge. Know now the main advantages of psychoanalysis in the patient's life and how these potentialities are developed!

Sense of leadership

When we are in control of our mind, or know it well, we are in control of most things. This is why doing analysis helps a lot to develop leadership. The person begins to resolve his internal issues and, almost automatically, begins to realize himself and put himself in the spotlight.

Another factor that should be taken into consideration is that analysis encourages challenge. So you, together with your therapist, will know your limits and how far you can go. And by expanding the challenges, we also expand our capacity to solve them.

Renewal

In the process of analysis, the patient begins to put himself in situations that he did not put himself in before and, within this, he begins to understand and refine his tastes, thus renewing himself. It is an important stage of the treatment for the patient to understand who he is in various situations, mainly the ones he represses.

So, it is very common for a patient to find himself totally different in the middle of the process. Psychoanalysis promotes an emotional emancipation of the patient and, when we are used to our company, we can have different tastes and peculiarities, because we were avoiding dealing with them.

Improve relationships

Analyzed people are better people. And being a person who deals better with your issues makes you deal better with the people around you. Since if you don't blame the other for your pain, your relationship will already be much better.

The empathy created in the analysis process is fundamental for you to understand the space of the other person and, above all, your own space. Respect begins to be an important pillar in your relationships.

Continuous effects

The long-term effects are many and best of all, they are continuous. The mind is constantly expanding, so if stimulated positively, it can completely change your understanding of the world. Also, psychoanalysis sessions are never monotonous, since you live every day and they are not the same.

However, analysis is not forever. Many times, psychoanalysts discharge their patients because they no longer need their services. What can also happen is that the analyst is no longer able to help, recommending another one.

Personalised treatment

One of the biggest advantages in psychoanalysis sessions is that the treatment is all geared to your needs, since the therapist knows you and thinks of dynamics and challenges especially for you and your needs.

It is important that you feel welcome in the therapy environment, always remembering that the therapist is not your friend, he is not there to protect you and tell you that you are right. He will be as professional as possible in pointing out your mistakes and giving advice that you may, or may not, take.

Self-knowledge

The most important part of the whole treatment. With self-knowledge, the patient opens up to a universe of things that have not yet been explored. A person who knows himself is a person who is ready to deal with adversity. He may not know what is coming, but he is sure that somehow he will get through it.

Self-knowledge is important for all the other stages and it is one of the first things that the patient realizes that he has evolved. Changing our perception and how we are within the world, changes, and a lot, our life, our goals and our dreams. Psychoanalysis is an invitation for this.

Who can seek psychoanalysis?

Everyone can seek the help of psychoanalysis, but for some cases, it is strictly prescribed. When you go through a clinical picture of psychic disturbance, it is essential. However, if you feel like it, even without a report, you can look for a therapist and do some experimental sessions or even a follow-up.

Psychoanalysis adds a lot to what we know as mind and how we can and should deal with ourselves. It is a tortuous process to understand oneself as a human being and, above all, to respect oneself. It is a valid experience that can, and will, be very fruitful in the future.