psychanalyse tours

Stéphanie Gross

Psychanalyste à Tours

Psychanalyse / thérapie psychanalytique

Prenez le risque de parler seul avec vos propres mots à un inconnu lié par le secret et votre parole vous mènera quelque part, elle ne sera pas vaine. Philippe JULIEN

ACCUEILLIR LE NOUVEAU EN SOI

Commencer une analyse ou une psychothérapie de type analytique est une décision importante. Ce choix nécessite à la fois de l’investissement personnel, de la volonté mais aussi un certain lâcher-prise. En effet, ce qui se parle lors des séances permet de devenir plus conscient donc plus libre. Cependant des changements profonds opèrent, des émotions inconnues, des manifestations psychiques émergent et il ne faut pas avoir peur de les accueillir. Je vous invite à “feuilleter” les pages de ce site pour situer ma démarche.

 PRISES EN CHARGE THÉRAPEUTIQUES

Séances individuelles (adultes et adolescents) : cure analytique, psychothérapie de type analytique, thérapie de soutien (gestion du stress, travail sur les émotions). Séances de 40 à 45 minutes.

Thérapies de couples : les conflits conjugaux et problèmes de communication peuvent être réglés par une psychothérapie. Elle permet de mieux cerner les besoins et attentes de chacun dans le couple et leur réciprocité ou non. Le thérapeute/analyste aide à construire une dynamique de projet, à clarifier la communication conjugale en envisageant le changement dans le sens du couple et d’une plus grande autonomie individuelle et à découvrir le sens de son propre désir et l’acceptation du désir de l’autre. Séances d’1 heure 15 (80 euros).

Groupes de paroles pour parents (5 à 10 personnes) :  pouvoir parler ses difficultés aux enfants-adolescents qui sont les nôtres dans la période de mutation et d’identification profonde qu’ils traversent peut permettre une mise en commun féconde en questionnements. Partager son expérience de parents, pouvoir témoigner de ses doutes en confiance dans une mise en lumière psychanalytique et éducative dans un groupe de paroles impliquant et confidentiel. Séances de 2 heures (participation : 15 euros).

Séances de psychodrame en groupe (5 à 10 personnes) : le psychodrame psychanalytique est une forme de psychothérapie qui, par sa “dramatisation” (en grec, drama fait référence au théâtre) -c’est-à-dire le recours au jeu d’improvisation, à la mise en mouvement du corps- permet l’élucidation et le traitement de certains processus psychiques, difficilement accessibles autrement. Séances sur une après-midi (durée de 2h30 environ).

J’anime depuis septembre 2022 des ateliers psychodrames pour des travailleurs à l’ESAT de la Thibaudière (ADAPEI 37).

📞 02 47 61 84 55 ou 07 71 59 49 37

PRÉSENTATION

Je cède ici à une certaine forme de modernité puisque ce site offre une visibilité quant à l’exercice de ma pratique en tant que psychanalyste. Ce n’est pas d’aujourd’hui que je mène des analyses dans un dispositif et un cadre que vous pouvez découvrir à l’onglet Le Cabinet .

La psychanalyse est une pratique et une théorie. L’analyste d’ailleurs est influencé dans sa pratique par le rapport qu’il entretient avec la théorie, ce qui laisse déjà présager que la rigueur est de mise dans la psychanalyse. J’ai bien sûr fait moi-même une analyse, c’est le minimum que l’on doit attendre de tout analyste.

La psychanalyse s’adresse au tout venant c’est-à-dire à ceux et à celles qui pour des raisons qui leurs sont propres finissent par rencontrer un psychanalyste. C’est le plus souvent la souffrance dans sa vie qui amène le patient à prendre un premier rendez-vous. Ne pas comprendre ce qui nous arrive et vouloir se débarrasser d’un symptôme qui est toujours là sont souvent ce qui alimentent les premiers entretiens. Je vois aujourd’hui des demandes qui sont liées aux échecs d’autres approches ou techniques dites de soins, car la psychanalyse est rarement de première intention sauf si l’on a dans son entourage quelqu’un qui est lui-même en cure ou si notre formation ou travail nous a donné connaissance de ce qu’est la psychanalyse.

L’écoute psychanalytique n’exclue pas l’enfant mais le dispositif n’est pas celui de la cure, il est plutôt à inventer pour chaque prise en charge.

Les photos de Freud et Lacan sur ce site disent assez de quel enseignement je me réclame sans pour autant en faire un dogme ou une idéologie. Pour le reste il ne tient qu’à vous de prendre un rendez-vous.

PSYCHOLOGUE CLINICIENNE A TOURS

Vous pouvez prendre rendez-vous par le biais de mon agenda électronique,

en utilisant

séance possible par Whatsapp

Règlement par virement

Annie-Flore Pelluard

Stationnement aisé et gratuit dans la rue, parking à droite au bout de la rue.

 Séance possible par Whatsapp.

PRISE RDV PAR DOCTOLIB

https://www.doctolib.fr/psychologue/tours/annie-pelluard

Des séances sont remboursées par les mutuelles, n'hésitez pas à demander auprès de l'organisme auprès de qui vous avez souscrit un contrat

Psychothérapie individuelle,

Enfant, Adolescent, Adulte

Thérapie de couple

Psychanalyse

Jean-François TARDY, Psychothérapeute à Tours

Cabinet de Psychothérapie à Tours

Prendre rendez-vous

Psychothérapeute intégratif et relationnel à Tours

J’exerce la psychothérapie relationnelle, corporelle et humaniste depuis 2004 à Tours. Je propose des psychothérapies psychanalytiques d'orientation jungienne et de gestalt thérapie en séances individuelles et en  groupe pour adultes et adolescents.

Séminaire dynamique du souffle 2024

Dates à venir

Groupes mensuels de psychothérapie

Prochaines dates : 9 septembre 2023,14 octobre 2023, 18 novembre 2023, 16 décembre 2023

En complément ou à la suite d’une psychothérapie individuelle, la participation à une psychothérapie de groupe est un moment fondamental et particulièrement enrichissant pour votre évolution personnelle. Vous pourrez suivre cet accompagnement en groupe thérapeutique mensuellement à Tours, en co-animation avec Laurence Richard.

Pourquoi faire appel à un psychothérapeute à Tours ?

Qui est concerné par la psychothérapie ?

Inscrivez-vous à la newsletter , les évènements à venir .

Les dernières nouvelles et documents consultables

Groupe de psychothérapie à Tours

Groupe de psychothérapie intégrative mensuel

Séminaire de psychocorporel en piscine d'eau chaude

Piscine d'eau chaude

Présentation séminaire de dynamique du souflle 2023

Psychothérapie corporelle

Contactez-moi !

Pour une demande de rendez-vous ou un renseignement.

Nous avons besoin de votre consentement

Nous utilisons des cookies afin de comprendre comment notre site est utilisé, quelles sont les pages vues

Mesure d'audience

Ces cookies nous aident à comprendre comment notre site est utilisé. Nous savons quelles pages sont les plus vues, d'où viennent nos visiteurs. Ils sont essentiels pour nous afin de vous offrir la meilleure expérience possible.

Ces cookies nous permettent de savoir si les éventuelles publicités que nous avons pu vous proposer ont été pertinentes.

Cabinet de psychanalyse

Photos & videos, location & hours.

Suggest an edit

133 Rue Du Cluzel

Quartier des Prébendes

37000 Tours

Amenities and More

Recommended reviews.

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Other Conseil et soutien psychologique Nearby

Find more Conseil et soutien psychologique near Cabinet de psychanalyse

A propos de moi

Mon installation se fonde sur une diversité professionnelle d'une vingtaine d'années en structures issues du secteur social et médico-social. Je travaille donc depuis très longtemps auprès d'enfants, d'adolescents, de mineurs dit non accompagnés et d'adultes qui m'ont confié un panel d' histoires , de prises de positions , de symptômes , de solutions trouvées pour vivre au mieux dans le monde. 

Je suis titulaire d'un Master recherche en philosophie spécialisé en phénoménologie et psychiatrie . Etudes, analyse personnelle et parcours professionnel sont imbriqués de telle sorte que je suis attachée à l'idée que la théorie est une élaboration singulière qui émane avant tout de l'expérience. En pratique psychanalytique, cela revient à recevoir  un être humain avec ce qu'il sait de lui sans faire du diagnostic ou de la théorie un préalable à la rencontre.   La psychanalyse est l'avènement d'un savoir singulier, propre à chacun.e, qui requiert le libre cours de la parole.

J'ai effectué ma spécialisation à la CPU de Tours, en parallèle de séminaires de Daseinsanalyse à la Sorbonne et de stages, séminaires ou journées de psychanalyse , participation aux présentations de malade proposés par l'EPFCL à Sainte-Anne, co-animation pendant quelques années du groupe de travail du laboratoire du CIEN - ACF VLB.

Le travail de l'inconscient permet un allègement de la souffrance, une compréhension de ses symptômes et produit des transformations durables sur le cours de sa vie. La psychanalyse est ouverte à toutes et tous .

Une souffrance récurrente, des symptômes persistants, un désir d'autre chose ? Contactez-moi.   

Formulaire de contact :

Yapaka ecf epfcl, psychologue.net resalib pages jaunes lemedecin.fr annuaire santé bien-être annuaire thérapeutes.

• Psychanalyse

Psy - Psychanalyse Tours

Psychanalyse - exercices pratiqués par nos psys à tours, psychanalyse - exemples de cas pratiques à tours, psychanalyse - derniers avis sur nos psys à tours, autres psys en psychanalyse - à proximité de tours.

Corinne Charoy - Psychologue - Psychanalyste

Psychologue - psychanalyste tours saint cyr sur loire - tél.  06 60 98 62 89.

• Qui suis-je ?
• Consultation
• Cabinet Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire
• Cabinet Paris

Psychologue - Psychanalyste Tours - Saint Cyr/Loire

Corinne Charoy, Psychologue-Psychothérapeute, Psychanalyste, vous accueille à Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire et à Paris,

Pourquoi consulter ?

•  Vous avez besoin de parler, vous êtes en difficulté sur le plan privé ou  professionnel,
•  Vous hésitez dans cette démarche peut-être nouvelle pour vous.
•  Vous cherchez à comprendre pourquoi certaines difficultés reviennent sans cesse et vous désirez que cela change.
•  N'hésitez pas à prendre contact pour que nous en parlions.  

Je suis à votre écoute, avec bienveillance et sans jugement, afin que vous puissiez identifier  et nommer  ce qui est à l'origine de vos difficultés.

Avec mon soutien à vos côtés, nous chercherons ensembles les espaces et les pistes qui vous permettent de vous libérer et de trouver les moyens pour que vous puissiez vivre pleinement votre vie.

Entreprendre une Psychothérapie permet de comprendre les causes profondes d'une souffrance psychique que l'on ne peut pas identifier et élaborer seul, afin de laisser advenir la Personne que vous êtes.

Vivre une belle et vraie relation avec vous-même et avec les autres, telle est mon orientation.

Chaque patient(e) est unique, chaque psychothérapie est unique et élaborée sur mesure avec vous et pour vous.

Les fiches proposées vous éclaireront sur certains points de la psychologie et de ma pratique :

•  la psychothérapie
•   l'anxiété
•  le burn out
•  les relations parents-enfants etc…

Je suis à votre disposition sur rendez-vous au  06 60 98 62 89 . Pour continuer la visite du site, remonter sur le bandeau de haut de page.

• Facebook Like
• Google Plus One
• Tweet Widget

Une Bibliothèque Pour La Psychanalyse - La bibliothèque - 46, Rue de la Fosse Marine 37100 TOURS & - Les conférences - Salle CRAPI 16, rue de la Pierre 37100 TOURS

• CONFERENCES 2023- 2024
• ACQUISITIONS LIVRES & DVD
• OUVRAGES & REVUES
• CONFERENCES 2006 -> AUJOURD'HUI
• GROUPES DE TRAVAIL 2023 -2024

Le vendredi 13 septembre 2024  à 20h30

  patricia janody présentera son livre,   " les mots, les maux n'appartiennent à personne" ,,   qu'elle n'a pas pu présenter l'année dernière pour des raisons de santé.  , n ous serons en lien avec le deuxième auteur, mohammed anssoufouddine par internet, ainsi qu'avec leurs collègues du centre de santé d'anjouan, une île des comores. , nous serons aussi rejoints par le centre de soins victor houali à trinlé-diapleu en côte d'ivoire, en présence de michelle sampah , nadia oury (sous réserve) et philippe bichon , de l'association la borde - ivoire.   , ----------------------------, le vendredi 4 octobre 2024  à 20h30, assemblée générale de la bpp , et présentation des groupes de travail, le vendredi 22 novembre 2024  à 20h30, une bibliothèque pour la psychanalyse bienvenue sur le blog de l'association unebpp permettez-moi de vous présenter en quelques mots l’association une bibliothèque pour la psychanalyse. plus communément appelée la b.p.p. association loi de 1901, la bpp a été crée en 2005. elle a pour but de proposer un espace de travail et de rencontre à toute personne, professionnelle ou pas, intéressée par la psychanalyse. c’est un dispositif de travail. chacun y est libre de ses engagements dans la société ou l’école de psychanalyse de son choix.   l’association fonctionne sur un trépied -  la bibliothèque , plus de 1000 ouvrages, est ouverte à l'emprunt et à la consultation sur place. la liste des ouvrages et revues est consultable sur le site blog ( cf. ouvrages et revues) -  les groupes de travail  sont sous la responsabilité de celle ou celui qui en prend l’initiative. une fois par an nous organisons une rencontre entre les différents groupes pour échanger sur notre travail. -  les conférences  sont assurées par des intervenants extérieurs. le choix de ces intervenants est assez ouvert et fait en fonction d’un ouvrage, d’une publication ou d’un thème. tous les membres de l’association s’acquittent d’une cotisation annuelle (périodicité scolaire) ( cf. devenir adhérent ). la municipalité met à notre disposition une salle pour la bibliothèque et les groupes de travail, située au 46, rue de la fosse marine - 37100 tours ( cf. plan d'accès ) nous avons établi des liens avec d’autres bibliothèques : la bibliothèque de médecine,  la bibliothèque municipale, l’université de tours et la cippa (coordination internationale entre psychothérapeutes psychanalystes s’occupant de personnes avec autisme et membres associés). un mot encore : j’estime important que ce lieu reste un lieu de travail et de rencontre ouvert à tous. j’espère que ces quelques notes pourront vous aider à comprendre notre engagement. pour le bureau,  didier grimault.

CÉCILE GUÉRET

Gestalt-thérapie

06.61.99.01.54

Gestalt-thérapie à Tours et en ligne

· Titulaire du Certificat Européen de Psychothérapie (CEP)

· Membre professionnel agréé de la fédération Française de Psychothérapie et de Psychanalyse (FF2P)

LA GESTALT THÉRAPIE

La thérapie est un moment de soutien, de connaissance de soi et de transformation. C’est un temps pour ralentir, laisser émerger ses sensations, émotions, dire ses difficultés, ses souffrances, mais aussi identifier ses ressources, recontacter ses rêves, ses envies. Pour vivre ses émotions plus sereinement, faire les choix qui nous conviennent et développer des relations plus ajustées avec les autres.

C’est aussi une rencontre, un chemin que nous empruntons ensemble au plus près de notre humanité. Centrée sur l’interaction que nous avons avec notre environnement, la gestalt-thérapie s’intéresse à la forme (la Gestalt en allemand) que prend le contact, la mise en évidence de comment nous existons là, l’un et l’autre, dans l’étonnement de nos différences et de notre singularité. Pour mieux vivre avec les autres et aller vers plus d’authenticité, de liberté dans votre manière d’être au monde.

Une thérapie de l'ici et maintenant

Une thérapie du contact, une thérapie holistique.

POURQUOI FAIRE UNE THÉRAPIE INDIVIDUELLE ?

Pour avoir du soutien face une difficulté ponctuelle.

Vous avez besoin d’être soutenu dans un moment difficile : séparation, licenciement, deuil, crise de vie, burn-out... Vous souhaitez être accompagné dans un changement de vie personnel ou professionnel (passage à la retraite, déménagement, recomposition familiale...).

Pour mieux vous connaître ou pour faire le point

Vous voulez prendre du recul, y voir plus clair, retrouver du sens dans votre vie ? Vous vous posez des questions existentielles ? Vous souhaitez mieux comprendre votre histoire, mettre à jour les fonctionnements qui se répètent, vous freinent ou vous empêchent ?

Pour dénouer des problématiques relationnelles

Dans votre couple, votre famille, à l'école, au travail, en société… Vous avez du mal à vous faire entendre, à poser des limites, à trouver votre place ou à supporter le regard de l'autre ? Vous souffrez de solitude, de dépendance affective ou de relations conflictuelles ?

Pour vous aider face à une souffrance persistante

Vous vous sentez vide, triste, agacé, ou tout le temps en colère ? Vous êtes anxieux, déprimé, vous avez des angoisses, des moments de panique ?

GROUPE DE THÉRAPIE À la rencontre de soi et de l'autre

POURQUOI FAIRE UNE THÉRAPIE DE COUPLE ?

Pour sortir des conflits, mieux vous parler et vous écouter : Sortir des accusations, des disputes, de la culpabilisation et des silences pesants. Mieux communiquer, réengager un dialogue constructif où chacun puisse écouter l’autre, se sentir entendu et reconnu dans ses difficultés, ses attentes et ses souhaits. Que les sujets de conflits soient diffus ou cristallisés sur certains sujets (sexualité, argent, enfants, travail, belle-famille…).

Pour repenser les principes fondamentaux de votre couple : Parce que votre couple traverse une crise, que vous avez besoin de repenser ou réinventer votre manière d’être ensemble (engagement, fidélité, liberté, temps passé ensemble, intimité, prise de décision…), de développer ou de restaurer un lien d'attachement sécurisant entre les conjoints.

Pour avoir du soutien face à une difficulté ponctuelle, dans un moment compliqué (PMA, installation en famille recomposée, changement de région ou de pays, etc.) ou d’évolution du couple (grossesse, syndrome du nid vide, départ à la retraite...). Autant de passages qui nécessitent de l'adaptation et de la créativité de la part du couple.

Pour retrouver une vie de couple harmonieuse et vivante : Parce que l’ennui, la lassitude ou la routine ont miné votre couple, que vous vous êtes éloignés l’un de l’autre, et que vos souhaitez nourrir ou renouer le lien entre vous,  retrouver de l’intimité, du plaisir à être ensemble, des projets d’avenir.   

QUI SUIS-JE ?

Je suis gestalt-thérapeute certifiée par l’Ecole Parisienne de Gestalt, titulaire du Certificat Européen de Psychothérapie  (CEP) et membre de la Fédération Française de Psychothérapie et de Psychanalyse (FF2P). Formatrice, animatrice de conférences et journaliste spécialisée en psychothérapie, je suis aussi autrice d’un livre publié chez Albin Michel (« Aimer, c’est prendre le risque de la surprise. Éloge de l’inattendu dans la rencontre amoureuse»).  Mon accompagnement est profond et progressif , dans la douceur, la bienveillance et la sécurité. Je vous accueille avec vos difficultés, vos souffrances, vos questionnements et les enjeux existentiels qui vous animent. Nous avancerons ensemble pour que vous puissiez développer des relations plus ajustées avec les autres, vous appuyer sur vos ressentis pour faire les choix qui vous conviennent , vivre vos émotions plus sereinement, identifier vos ressources et recontacter vos rêves et vos envies .

MES INTERVENTIONS DANS LES MÉDIAS

BLOG : "LA PSY BUISSONNIÈRE"

Prochain stage Terre & Écriture : "Être ensemble"

• 18 nov. 2022

Webinaire Cairn.Info avec Serge Hefez : Quête d'identité et questions de genre à l'adolescence

• 30 juin 2022

Les bénéfices de la thérapie de couple

Psychologues, psychothérapeutes ou psychopraticiens spécialisés en EMDR à Tours

Corinne Collin-Bellet

Corinne Collin-Bellet consulte à Saint Cyr sur Loire en INDRE ET LOIRE et à Saintes en Charente MaritimeJe consulte à distance par téléphone RV directement...

En présentiel Thérapie présentiel

En ligne Thérapie en ligne

3 Mail Suzanne Valadon, Tours

Dès 60€ /séance.

Dès - € /séance.

Contactez en avance ce cabinet pour lui demander une consultation.

Laure Cotillon

Thérapeute pour adultes, adolescents et enfants à Joué-lès-ToursJ'accompagne : les (ex) victimes de violences physiques les (ex) victimes de violences psyc...

Nicolas Pierné

Bonjour, PIERNÉ Nicolas, hypnothérapeute à Tours, certifié par "l'institut hypno-isis" pendant 2 ans. Et formé à la thérapie des "HTSMA" qui est une dérive...

2 rue du Plat d'étain, Tours

Rendez-vous choisie : - à -

Philippe Gayral

Je vous reçois à Esvres (37320), dans la région de Tours. Je suis psychopraticien certifié dans l'Approche Centrée sur la Personne, thérapeute certifié EMD...

Rue nationale, Tours

Dès 50€ /séance.

Karine Adam

Je suis psychologue, titulaire d'un Master 2 en psychologue clinique de la santé de l'Université de Bordeaux. J'ai obtenu ma certification en Thérapies Com...

16, rue Germaine TAILLEFERRE, Tours

Dès 45€ /séance.

DELAHAIE Gaëlle

Psychologue clinicienne, psychothérapeute et gestalt-thérapeute, j'accompagne des enfants, des adolescents et des adultes. Je propose des accompagnements i...

109 rue du Cluzel, Tours

Dès 46€ /séance.

Psychologue.net n'a pas pu vérifier ce profil.

Eva Ghiringhelli

Spécialisée en Hypnothérapie, en sexothérapie et en thérapie EMDR Appliquée. Mon cabinet est situé à Tours, près de la gare : il est facile d'accès en tran...

46 rue du rempart, Tours

Laetitia Roché

Je détiens le titre de psychologue et un doctorat en Neurosciences (Université de Tours). Je suis formée en thérapie EMDR (Institut Français d'EMDR) et sui...

19 avenue de Grammont, Tours

Rico Catherine

Je suis formée en Thérapie Cognitive et Comportementale, et en Thérapie EMDR et Hypnose Thérapeutique. Je vous reçois dans mon cabinet à Tours depuis 1999....

4 AVENUE MALRAUX, Tours

La thérapie EMDR ou Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing , c'est-à-dire la Désensibilisation et Reprogrammation par Mouvement des Yeux en français, a été développée par l'américaine Francine Shapiro, en 1987. Cette thérapie est souvent utilisée dans les cas de syndrome de stress post-traumatique : grâce aux mouvements occulaires, on "reprogramme" le cerveau pour tenter de dépasser le traumatisme. Cette liste montre 9 cabinets spécialisés en EMDR à Tours :

Tous les services

Psychothérapie

Psychoanalysis

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

It began, of course, with Freud. Psychoanalysis refers both to a theory of how the mind works and a treatment modality. In recent years, both have yielded to more research-driven approaches, but psychoanalysis is still a thriving field and deals with subjective experience in ways that other therapies sometimes do not.

Belief in such hallmarks of Freudian thinking as the primacy of the unconscious fantasy , sexual desires (libido, penis envy , Oedipal complex), and dreams has wavered. But Freud also identified such basic mental maneuvers as transference , projection , and defensiveness, and demonstrated how they distort functioning. As a treatment based on extended self-exploration, psychoanalysis has evolved beyond the silent-shrink stereotype.

For more, see Psychoanalytic Therapy.

• The Fundamentals of Psychoanalysis
• How Psychoanalysis Has Influenced Therapy
• Psychoanalysis in Practice

Freud pioneered the idea that unconscious forces influence overt behavior and personality . He believed that childhood events and unconscious conflict, often pertaining to sexual urges and aggression , shape a person’s experience in adulthood.

Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis created the framework for psychoanalytic therapy, a deep, individualized form of talk therapy. Psychoanalytic therapy encompasses an open conversation that aims to uncover ideas and memories long buried in the unconscious mind.

Psychoanalysts employ specific techniques, such as spontaneous word association, dream analysis, and transference analysis. Identifying patterns in the client’s speech and reactions can help the individual better understand their thoughts, behaviors, and relationships as a prelude to changing what is dysfunctional.

The id holds primitive desires and urges. Freud conceived of it as an unconscious, instinctual, dark component of the psyche that seeks pleasure. It isn’t rational or accessible, and primarily possesses sexual and aggressive urges—although some contemporary psychologists believe that Freud overemphasized these tendencies.

The superego embodies a person’s higher moral code. This moral compass is responsible for self-control , decision-making , and sacrifice, abilities that allow an individual to live well with others in society. The superego is thought to arise from parental authority, according to Freud’s view. It has absolute and inflexible standards, which leads to conflicts with the impulsive id.

The ego represents the self that balances and resolves conflicts between two competing forces: the primitive impulses of the id and the morals and values of the superego. This ego then represents one’s reality, identity , and decision-making consciousness; in Latin, the word “ego” means “I.” 

The unconscious is the vast sum of operations of the mind that take place below the level of conscious awareness. The conscious mind contains all the thoughts, feelings, cognitions, and memories we acknowledge, while the unconscious consists of deeper mental processes not readily available to the conscious mind.

Transference is a phenomenon in which a patient unconsciously directs feelings or desires toward an important figure in his life, such as a parent, onto the therapist. For example, the patient may respond angrily when the therapist unconsciously reminds the patient of his domineering father.

Countertransference encompasses the feelings that the patient evokes in the therapist. Therapists can sometimes observe their countertransference and leverage it into insight that can help the patient. For example, a therapist who feels irritated by a patient for no clear reason may eventually uncover subtle unconscious provocations that annoy and repel others, thereby keeping the patient unwittingly isolated. Those behaviors can then be addressed in therapy.

Defense mechanisms are unconscious strategies that people use to protect themselves from discomfort. For example, they may attribute their own feelings onto someone else ( projection ), or separate components of their life to prevent conflicting emotions ( compartmentalization ). Defense mechanisms are one of the Freudian ideas that have endured as the field has progressed.

Projection is a defense mechanism by which a person displaces their own feelings onto a different person or object. The term is often used to describe defensive projection—attributing one’s unacceptable urges to another. For example, if someone continuously bullies and ridicules a peer about his insecurities, the bully might be projecting his own struggle with self-esteem onto the other person.

Freud believed that dreams were vehicles for people to act out their unconscious wishes and desires, and that interpreting symbols in dreams could elicit awareness and insight. Today, some scientists disagree with Freud’s conclusions or entirely contest the idea that dreams possess deeper meaning. Yet dreams can still be helpful in a therapeutic context if they initiate discussion and insight.

Although there is diversity in psychoanalytic theory and treatment today, several beliefs cut across these different perspectives: 

1. An assumption that all human beings are motivated in part by wishes, fantasies or tacit knowledge that are outside of awareness (this is referred to as unconscious motivation ).

2. An interest in facilitating awareness of unconscious motivations, thereby increasing choice.

3. An emphasis on exploring the ways in which we avoid painful or threatening feelings, fantasies and thoughts.

4. An assumption that we are ambivalent about changing and an emphasis on the importance of exploring this ambivalence.

5. An emphasis on using the therapeutic relationship as an arena for exploring clients’ self-defeating psychological processes and actions (both conscious and unconscious).

6. An emphasis on using the therapeutic relationship as an important vehicle of change.

7. An emphasis on helping clients to understand the way in which their own construction of their past and present plays a role in perpetuating their self-defeating patterns.

Neuropsychoanalysis is a subfield that aims to wed the insights of Freudian psychology and its emphasis on subjective experience with neuroscientific findings about brain processes. As new technologies reveal ever more precise brain activity, neuropsychoanalysis seeks to identify the biological underpinnings of emotion , fantasy, and the layers of the unconscious.

Freud’s ideas have been contested and criticized—yet his influence is also hard to overstate. Freud’s realization that much of mental life operates outside of awareness was a groundbreaking insight that propelled psychology forward. Establishing psychoanalysis—and the idea that talking about oneself and one’s troubles could alleviate mental illness and enhance well-being—has paved the way for the many forms of therapy available to help individuals today.

Psychiatry became a medical specialty in the 1800s, and it served people with severe conditions, such as psychosis , bipolar disorder , and depression , who lived in hospitals or psychiatric institutions. Freud began to study milder disorders, and their unconscious roots, which he termed neuroses. This led psychiatry to treat individuals who were not severely impaired but faced challenges regarding emotions, relationships, or work. This shift contributed to the development of numerous forms of therapy, as well as an ongoing debate about the classification and medicalization of mental illnesses.

A widespread and widely respected specialty in psychiatry in the 1960s, psychoanalysis has fallen in popularity since then. The reasons may include that analysis broadened to treat more personal and societal ills than it intended to, drug discovery and excitement around psychopharmacology , philosophy and art adopting psychoanalytic concepts, and insurance companies standardizing medical and psychological care.

Psychoanalytic therapy and Freud himself have received sharp criticism. Freud primarily relied on case studies and did not validate his work scientifically; he also misrepresented the outcomes of treatment in some cases. Some of his ideas may be overblown, such as people’s aggressive and sexual urges, while others are completely baseless, like the Oedipal complex and penis envy . Psychoanalysis is also an intensive treatment, requiring a substantial investment of time and money. For these reasons, some argue shorter treatments with stronger evidence bases are stronger options.

Psychoanalysis has evolved and modernized since Freud’s conception of the practice, and many people engage in it today; It can be a powerful treatment for those wishing to delve into deep self-reflection.

Psychoanalysis involves meeting with a trained psychoanalyst a few to several times per week, where patients talk about themselves, their challenges, and whatever else prompted them to seek therapy. Patients aim to speak freely without censoring themselves, and explore subconscious beliefs, emotions, or desires with the analyst.

Psychoanalysis is open-ended and lacks predefined goals, in contrast to other therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy. The process often lasts years, or even decades.

The experience of psychoanalysis is well-suited to some personalities, but not everyone’s. It’s an intense process of self-examination and feedback from the analyst; patients may have to confront painful and undesirable feelings, thoughts, and impulses.

Psychoanalysis is a good fit for those who want to develop a deeper understanding of themselves —how the pieces of their story fit together, as well as their interior and exterior lives. It’s the right approach for people whose challenges are serious and longstanding; psychoanalysis can expose the core dynamics that may be leading them to feel trapped in a destructive cycle.

Various forms of psychotherapy help patients recognize their fears or distress and provide the support and tools for patients to overcome those challenges. But even with those resources, some clients still can’t change—they have conflicting desires and motivations. Psychoanalysis is well-suited to address the psyche’s unconscious resistance to change , as it aims to unearth the hidden forces that explain why the unconscious may benefit from maintaining existing patterns.

A unique bond is forged between the analyst and the patient. The connection is intimate due to the material discussed and time spent together, but it also has strong boundaries and restrictions to maintain a professional relationship and to allow the psychoanalytic process to take place through mechanisms such as transference and countertransference. Contemporary psychoanalysis also places greater importance on this human relationship and its therapeutic value.

Aspiring psychoanalysts must have an advanced degree in medicine or mental health—such as a master’s degree, a doctorate, or as a medical doctor—before proceeding to train at an approved psychoanalytic institute and receive their certification.

Historically, the field was primarily made up of physicians, but more recently psychoanalysis has become dominated by psychologists. Social workers and other mental health professionals have been entering the field in greater numbers as well.

Dreams reveal their meanings objectively and through symbols and metaphors, often expressing multiple meanings at once. Understanding this is key to productive dreamwork.

Psychoanalysis has come a long way from blaming cold mothers to understanding autistic babies' development in the sensory and motor systems that affect intersubjectivity.

In her new novel, author Jane Campbell explores repressed emotions, unprocessed trauma, and the unconscious memories that flow beneath the surface of our daily lives.

Getting out of a relationship with a narcissistic can be difficult, costly, and disorienting. Can you see the signs early and move on before it's too late?

In pars pro toto thinking, the part is taken for the whole. This type of thinking is a hallmark of severe personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder.

Carl Jung used the term shadow to refer to the unacceptable parts of ourselves.

An updated and revised translation of Freud's complete works was recently completed by Dr. Mark Solms, including new writings that may alter our view of him on social issues.

Does my narcissistic partner love me? This is an aching and important question. Mature love rests on four attitudes. Does your partner have them? Do you?

Patients beset by a need-fear dilemma have a simultaneous need for and fear of closeness in interpersonal relationships.

Finally cracking the meaning of Narcissus.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Psychoanalysis: Freud’s Psychoanalytic Approach to Therapy

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach and theory, founded by Sigmund Freud , that seeks to explore the unconscious mind to uncover repressed feelings and interpret deep-rooted emotional patterns, often using techniques like dream analysis and free association.

The primary assumption of psychoanalysis is the belief that all people possess unconscious thoughts, feelings, desires, and memories.

According to Freud, neurotic problems in later life are a product of the conflicts that arise during the Oedipal phase of development. These conflicts may be repressed because the immature ego is unable to deal with them at the time.

Basic Assumptions

• Psychoanalytic psychologists see psychological problems as rooted in the unconscious mind.
• Manifest symptoms are caused by latent (hidden) disturbances.
• Typical causes include unresolved issues during development or repressed trauma.
• Freud believed that people could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight.
• Treatment focuses on bringing the repressed conflict to consciousness, where the client can deal with it.

Psychoanalytic therapy aims to create the right sort of conditions so that the patient can bring these conflicts into the conscious mind, where they can be addressed and dealt with.  Only by having a cathartic (i.e., healing) experience is the person helped and “cured.”

How Can We Understand The Unconscious Mind?

Remember, psychoanalysis is a therapy as well as a theory. Psychoanalysis is commonly used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

In psychoanalysis (therapy), Freud would have a patient lie on a couch to relax, and he would sit behind them taking notes while they told him about their dreams and childhood memories.  Psychoanalysis would be a lengthy process, involving many sessions with the psychoanalyst.

During analysis, the analyst interprets the patient’s thoughts, actions and dreams , and points out their defenses. By carefully waiting until the patient himself is about to gain the same insight the analyst can maximize the impact of the interpretation.

Related to these interpretations is the problem of the patient’s denial. The analyst may well have reason to believe that a patient’s denial of an interpretation offered by the analyst is another example of the defensive process.

Analysis of defenses is emphasized by contemporary psychoanalysts (known as ego analysts) who dispute the relatively weak role that Freud assigned the ego (Davison & Neale, 1994). They argue that defence mechanisms are the ego’s unconscious tools for warding off a confrontation with anxiety.

Due to the nature of defense mechanisms and the inaccessibility of the deterministic forces operating in the unconscious, psychoanalysis in its classic form is a lengthy process, often involving 2 to 5 sessions per week for several years.

Of particular significance during psychoanalysis are the patient’s attempts at resistance. They may attempt to block discussion by changing the subject quickly, for example, or even neglecting to turn up for therapy. Freud considered these resistances a valuable insight into uncovering sensitive areas in the patient’s unconscious mind.

This approach assumes that the reduction of symptoms alone is relatively inconsequential, as if the underlying conflict is not resolved, more neurotic symptoms will be substituted.

The analyst typically is a “blank screen,” disclosing very little about themselves in order that the client can use the space in the relationship to work on their unconscious without interference from outside.

The psychoanalyst uses various techniques as encouragement for the client to develop insights into their behavior and the meanings of symptoms, including inkblots, parapraxes, free association, interpretation (including dream analysis ), resistance analysis and transference analysis.

1) Rorschach inkblots

Due to the nature of defense mechanisms and the inaccessibility of the deterministic forces operating in the unconscious,

The Rorschach inkblot itself doesn”t mean anything, it’s ambiguous (i.e., unclear). It is what you read into it that is important. Different people will see different things depending on what unconscious connections they make.

The inkblot is known as a projective test as the patient “projects” information from their unconscious mind to interpret the inkblot.

However, behavioral psychologists such as B.F. Skinner have criticized this method as being subjective and unscientific.

2) Freudian Slip

Unconscious thoughts and feelings can transfer to the conscious mind in the form of parapraxes, popularly known as Freudian slips or slips of the tongue. We reveal what is really on our mind by saying something we didn’t mean to.

Freud believed that these were no accidents but were due entirely to the workings of the unconscious. As such, they were a valuable source of insight into this part of the human mind. These are more technically known as parapraxes.

For example, a nutritionist giving a lecture intended to say we should always demand the best in bread, but instead said bed. Another example is where a person may call a friend’s new partner by the name of a previous one, whom we liked better.

Freud believed that slips of the tongue provided an insight into the unconscious mind and that there were no accidents, every behavior (including slips of the tongue) was significant (i.e., all behavior is determined).

3) Free Association

A key part of learning to conduct psychoanalytic psychotherapy involves developing skills and techniques aimed at accessing and understanding unconscious processes.

This includes facilitating the client’s free association, where the client expresses whatever thoughts or feelings come to mind without censorship. As unconscious ideas and emotions emerge, the therapist helps the client explore and make meaning of them.

Free association is a psychoanalytic term used to describe the free association of ideas that can give an insight into the unconscious mind of the patient.

In free association, the patient is encouraged to speak freely and to verbalize anything that comes to mind. In this way the patient may be able to bring content to the surface that has previously been censored by the ego.

This technique involves a therapist giving a word or idea, and the patient immediately responds in an unconstrained way with the first word that comes to mind. The analyst then offers an interpretation of the relationship observed.

It is hoped that fragments of repressed memories will emerge in the course of free association, giving an insight into the unconscious mind.

Free association may not prove useful if the client shows resistance, and is reluctant to say what he or she is thinking.

On the other hand, the presence of resistance (e.g., an excessively long pause) often provides a strong clue that the client is getting close to some important repressed idea in his or her thinking, and that further probing by the therapist is called for.

Freud reported that his free-associating patients occasionally experienced such an emotionally intense and vivid memory that they almost relived the experience.  This is like a “flashback” from a war or a rape experience.

Such a stressful memory, so real it feels like it is happening again, is called an abreaction.  If such a disturbing memory occurred in therapy or with a supportive friend and one felt better–relieved or cleansed–later, it would be called a catharsis .

Frequently, these intensely emotional experiences provided Freud a valuable insight into the patient’s problems.

4) Dream Analysis

According to Freud, the analysis of dreams is “the royal road to the unconscious.” He argued that the conscious mind is like a censor, but it is less vigilant when we are asleep.

In dream analysis , the analyst attempts to unravel and interpret the symbolic nature of the patient’s dreams. The true concerns of the patient are often disguised in their dreams and may be experienced symbolically, i.e. they dream about something that represents their concern, rather than dreaming directly about the concern itself. The true concerns of the patient are often disguised in this symbolic form to protect the conscious mind from developing full awareness of the underlying concern.

As a result, repressed ideas come to the surface – though what we remember may well have been altered during the dream process.

As a result, we need to distinguish between the manifest content and the latent content of a dream. The former is what we actually remember.

The latter is what it really means. Freud believed that very often the real meaning of a dream had a sexual significance and in his theory of sexual symbolism, he speculates on the underlying meaning of common dream themes.

5) Transference Analysis

Another core technique is examining transference, which refers to how the client relates to the therapist in ways that unconsciously reflect early important relationships, and countertransference, the therapist’s own unconscious reactions to the client that can give insight into the therapeutic relationship dynamics.

So, trainees learn to attend carefully to the emotional interchanges within the therapy relationship as a source of insight into both parties’ unconscious relational patterns stemming from their developmental histories.

Of key importance in psychoanalytic therapy is transference . Freud had originally noticed that his patients sometimes felt and acted toward him as if he were an important person from the patient’s past.

Sometimes, these feelings were positive, but sometimes they were negative and hostile. Freud assumed these were relics of attitudes held toward these important persons in the patient’s past.

Freud felt that this transference was an inevitable aspect of psychoanalysis, and used it to explain to patients the childhood origins of many of the concerns and fears.

In psychoanalysis, transference is seen as essential to a complete cure. Analysts use the fact that transference is developing as a sign that an important repressed conflict is nearing the surface.

Countertransference

In psychoanalysis, countertransference refers to the emotional reactions and unconscious biases a therapist might have towards a patient, often influenced by the therapist’s own past experiences or unresolved feelings.

It’s the therapist’s emotional response to the patient’s transference.

Clinical Applications

Psychoanalysis (along with Rogerian humanistic counseling) is an example of a global therapy (Comer, 1995, p. 143) which has the aim of helping clients bring about a major change in their whole perspective on life.

This rests on the assumption that the current maladaptive perspective is tied to deep-seated personality factors. Global therapies stand in contrast to approaches which focus mainly on a reduction of symptoms, such as cognitive and behavioral approaches, so-called problem-based therapies.

Psychoanalytic therapy has been seen as appropriate mainly for the neurotic disorders (e.g. anxiety and eating disorders) rather than for psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. It is also used for depression although its effectiveness in this area is more questionable because of the apathetic nature of the depressive patients.

A related problem is the greater likelihood of transference in depressive patients undergoing psychoanalysis. They are likely to show extreme dependency upon important people in their life (including their therapist) and more likely to develop transference (Comer, 1995).

Anxiety disorders such as phobias, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder are obvious areas where psychoanalysis might be assumed to work.

The aim is to assist the client in coming to terms with their own id impulses or to recognize the origin of their current anxiety in childhood relationships that are being relived in adulthood.  Svartberg and Stiles (1991) and Prochaska and DiClemente (1984) point out that the evidence for its effectiveness is equivocal.

Salzman (1980) suggests that psychodynamic therapies generally are of little help to clients with specific anxiety disorders such as phobias or OCDs but may be of more help with general anxiety disorders.

Salzman (1980)  expresses concerns that psychoanalysis may increase the symptoms of OCDs because of the tendency of such clients to be overly concerned with their actions and to ruminate on their plight (Noonan, 1971).

Comer also suggests that psychoanalysis may not be appropriate for patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder in that it may inadvertently increase their tendency to over-interpret events in their life.

Depression may be treated with a psychoanalytic approach to some extent.  Psychoanalysts relate depression back to the loss every child experiences when realizing our separateness from our parents early in childhood.  An inability to come to terms with this may leave the person prone to depression or depressive episodes in later life.

Treatment then involves encouraging the client to recall that early experience and to untangle the fixations that have built up around it.  Particular care is taken with transference when working with depressed clients due to their overwhelming need to be dependent on others.

The aim is for clients to become less dependent and to develop a more functional way of understanding and accepting loss/rejection/change in their lives.

Shapiro and Emde (1991) report that psychodynamic therapies have been successful only occasionally.  One reason might be that depressed people may be too inactive or unmotivated to participate in the session.  In such cases a more directive, challenging approach might be beneficial.

Another reason might be that depressives may expect a quick cure and as psychoanalysis does not offer this, the client may leave or become overly involved in devising strategies to maintain a dependent transference relationship with the analyst.

Critical Evaluation

• Therapy is very time-consuming and is unlikely to provide answers quickly.
• People must be prepared to invest a lot of time and money into the therapy; they must be motivated.
• They might discover some painful and unpleasant memories that had been repressed, which causes them more distress.
• This type of therapy does not work for all people and all types of disorders.
• The nature of Psychoanalysis creates a power imbalance between therapist and client that could raise ethical issues.

There has been criticism in recent years that if psychoanalysis is of benefit to people, it is only of benefit to those who possess certain qualities. The acronym YAVIS has been used to indicate that patients who are young, attractive, verbal, intelligent, and successful would be the ones most likely to benefit from psychoanalysis.

Few studies appear to support the first three of these suggestions, although as well as the latter two suggestions there is evidence that psychoanalysis also works best with those clients who are highly motivated and have a positive attitude towards therapy.

Eysenck (1952) delivered the most damaging indictment of psychoanalysis when he reviewed studies of therapeutic outcomes for neurotic patients. He found that about half recovered within two years. What was so damning for psychoanalysis was that for similar patients who received no treatment at all (waiting list controls), the figure was about two thirds.

Critics of Eysenck’s findings discovered that he had made a number of arbitrary judgements about ‘recoveries’ that were unfavorable to the groups that received psychoanalytic treatments.

Bergin (1971) found that by selecting different outcome criteria, improvement in the psychoanalytically treated group rose to 83% whilst the percentage of control group patients showing significant improvement dropped to 30%.

Fisher and Greenberg (1977), in a review of the literature, conclude that psychoanalytic theory cannot be accepted or rejected as a package, “it is a complete structure consisting of many parts, some of which should be accepted, others rejected and the others at least partially reshaped.”

Eysenck’s claims against the effectiveness of psychoanalysis showed the difficulties of evaluation in this area. Individual differences in patients and therapists, and the relationship between them, might confound attempts to measure the effectiveness of a particular type of treatment. Measuring the outcome of treatment may also present problems in defining what is meant by ‘cure’.

Corsini and Wedding (1995, 2013) claim that, depending on the criteria involved, estimates of ‘cure’ as a result of psychoanalysis range from 30% to 60%.

Although changes in the occurrence of symptoms might be a suitable way of measuring the effectiveness of behaviorist techniques, the effectiveness of psychoanalytic therapy, which typically spans several years, is more subjective, measurable only by the extent to which the clients themselves feel that their condition has improved .

Fonagy (1981) questions whether attempts to validate Freud’s approach through laboratory tests have any validity themselves.

Freud’s theory questions the very basis of a rationalist, scientific approach and could well be seen as a critique of science, rather than science rejecting psychoanalysis because it is not susceptible to refutation.

The case study method is criticized as it is doubtful that generalizations can be valid since the method is open to many kinds of bias (e.g., Little Hans ).

However, psychoanalysis is concerned with offering interpretations to the current client, rather than devising abstract dehumanized principles.

Anthony Storr (1987), the well-known psychoanalyst appearing on TV and Radio 4’s “All in the Mind”, holds the view that whilst a great many psychoanalysts have a wealth of “data” at their fingertips from cases, these observations are bound to be contaminated with subjective personal opinion and should not be considered scientific.

Neo Freudians

Subsequent psychoanalytic theorists built upon but also challenged Freud’s drive theory.

Object relations theory shifted focus to relationships and attachment , with key figures like Melanie Klein , Donald Winnicott, and John Bowlby emphasizing how internal working models of self/other based on early caretaker relationships shape personality and relational patterns.

Harry Stack Sullivan and interpersonal psychoanalysis highlighted social and cultural factors influencing mental health. Heinz Kohut’s self-psychology focused on empathy, attunement, and disorders of the self like narcissism.

Intersubjective and relational psychoanalysis theories view the client’s and therapist’s subjectivities as co-created in an intersubjective field, with attention to enactments and dissociated self states, especially for trauma survivors.

Attachment Theory vs Psychoanalysis

Attachment theory , developed by John Bowlby, and psychoanalytic theory, developed by Sigmund Freud, offer complementary perspectives on human development and relationships.

While attachment theory reacted against some psychoanalytic views , like drive theory, the two approaches converge on many topics. Both see early childhood experiences as shaping internal models that influence adult relationships and behavior.

Attachment research provides empirical evidence that unresolved issues from childhood perpetuate across generations, a key psychoanalytic claim. Concepts like internal working models and secure base align with psychoanalytic ideas like transference and the therapeutic relationship fostering insight.

However, attachment theory more strongly emphasizes the impact of actual childhood events, whereas psychoanalysis highlights inner reality and fantasy.

Both offer useful frameworks for understanding how relational patterns persist or change across the lifespan. Their differences can spark productive dialogue on the roles of inner and outer reality in development. 

Psychoanalytic education also involves the trainee undergoing extensive personal therapy, where through experiencing the therapy process directly they gain firsthand insight into their own psychological conflicts, attachment history, unconscious reactions , and clinical blind spots.

This helps develop self-awareness and attunement needed to understand and respond helpfully to clients’ unconscious communications.

Finally, cultural competence requires analysts to engage in ongoing self-examination around differences and power dynamics related to their own and their clients’ sociocultural identities and experiences.

Unconscious assumptions, biases, stereotypes etc. rooted in culture and privilege/oppression influence clinical perceptions and relationships, so their ongoing reflection upon is considered imperative.

The multiple layers of self-exploration around unconscious processes in one’s personal therapy, clinical work, supervision, and sociocultural context form the bedrock of psychoanalytic clinical education and skill development.

Learning Check: You are the Therapist

Read through the notes below. Identify the methods the therapist is using. What do you think Albert’s problem is?

A young man, 18 years old, is referred to a psychoanalyst by his family doctor. It seems that, for the past year, the young man (Albert) has been experiencing a variety of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, palpitations, sleep disturbances – all associated with extreme anxiety.

The symptoms are accompanied by a constant, but periodically overwhelming fear of death. He believes that he has a brain tumor and is, therefore, going to die.

However, in spite of exhaustive medical tests, no physical basis for the symptoms can be identified. The doctor finally concludes that Albert’s symptoms are probably psychologically based.

Albert arrives at the analyst’s office accompanied by his parents. He describes his problems and depicts his relationship with his parents as “rosy” – though admitting that his father may be “a little on the strict side.”

It emerges that his father will not permit Albert to go out during the week, and he must be home by 11 pm at weekends.

Additionally, he successfully broke up a relationship between Albert and a girlfriend because he thought they were getting “too close.” In describing this, Albert shows no conscious resentment, recounting the events in an emotional, matter of fact manner.

During one session, in which Albert is encouraged to free associate, he demonstrated a degree of resistance in the following example:

“I remember one day when I was a little kid, and my mother and I were planning to go out shopping together. My father came home early, and instead of my mother taking me out, the two of them went out together leaving me with a neighbor. I felt……for some reason my mind has gone completely blank.”

This passage is fairly typical of Albert’s recollections.

Occasionally, Albert is late for his appointments with the therapist, and less often he misses an appointment, claiming to have forgotten.

ALBERT’S DREAM

During one session, Albert reports a dream in which his father is leaving on a train, while Albert remains on the platform holding hands with both his mother and his girlfriend. He feels both happy and guilty at the same time.

Sometime later, after the therapy sessions have been going on for several months, the analyst takes a two weeks holiday. During a session soon afterward Albert speaks angrily to the therapist.

“Why the hell did you decide to take a holiday with your damned wife just as we were beginning to get somewhere with my analysis.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between psychoanalysis and other forms of talk therapy.

Psychoanalysis differs from other forms of talk therapy in its emphasis on unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Unlike shorter-term therapies, psychoanalysis typically involves several sessions per week and continues for an extended duration. Other talk therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or humanistic therapy , focus more on conscious thoughts, present problems, and symptom relief.

While psychoanalysis delves into the unconscious mind and explores long-standing patterns, other therapies may prioritize practical strategies and immediate symptom management.

Are the concepts and techniques of psychoanalysis still relevant today?

Freud’s ideas about the unconscious mind, defense mechanisms, and the influence of early experiences continue to shape modern psychology.

While some aspects of Freud’s work have been refined or challenged, psychoanalysis remains valuable for understanding human behavior, emotions, and relationships.

The emphasis on self-reflection, insight, and uncovering hidden motivations can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of themselves. However, it’s important to note that other therapeutic approaches have also emerged, offering alternative perspectives and methods for addressing mental health concerns.

Is psychoanalysis only effective for specific types of mental disorders?

Psychoanalysis is not necessarily limited to specific types of mental disorders. While it was originally developed for treating neurotic disorders, its principles can be applied to a wide range of mental health concerns.

Psychoanalysis focuses on understanding the underlying emotional conflicts and unconscious processes that contribute to psychological distress. It can be helpful for various conditions, including anxiety , depression , personality disorders, and relationship difficulties.

Additionally, psychoanalysis can also be beneficial for personal growth and self-exploration, even if someone doesn’t have a specific mental disorder. The approach aims to enhance self-awareness and foster a deeper understanding of one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

What are some of the defence mechanisms Freud described?

Freud described several defense mechanisms that people unconsciously use to cope with anxiety or distress. Some of these mechanisms include:

1. Repression: Pushing distressing thoughts or memories out of awareness. 2. Denial: Refusing to acknowledge or accept a painful reality. 3. Projection: Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to someone else. 4. Displacement: Redirecting emotions from their original source to a less threatening target. 5. Rationalization: Creating logical explanations or justifications to make unacceptable behaviors or thoughts seem more acceptable. 6. Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities or outlets. 7. Regression: Reverting to an earlier stage of development in the face of stress or conflict. 8. Reaction Formation: Expressing the opposite of one’s true feelings or desires.

These defense mechanisms serve to protect the ego from overwhelming anxiety, but they can also distort reality and hinder personal growth and self-awareness.

Is transactional analysis a psychoanalytic theory?

Transactional analysis (TA) is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Eric Berne. While it incorporates certain elements of psychoanalytic theory, especially regarding early childhood experiences, it distinctively emphasizes the “transactions” or interactions between people and introduces concepts like the Parent, Adult, and Child ego states. So, while influenced by psychoanalysis, TA stands as its unique approach.

Comer, R. J. (1995). Abnormal psychology (2nd ed.) . New York: W. H. Freeman.

Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (1994). Abnormal Psychology . New York: John Willey and Sons.

Eysenck, H. J. (1952). The effects of psychotherapy: an evaluation .  Journal of Consulting Psychology ,  16 (5), 319.

Fisher, S., & Greenberg, R. P. (1977). The scientific credibility of Freud’s theories and therapy . Columbia University Press.

Fonagy, P. (1981). Several entries in the area of psycho-analysis and clinical psychology .

Freud, S. (1916-1917). Introductory lectures on psychoanalysis . SE, 22: 1-182.

Freud, A. (1937). The Ego and the mechanisms of defense. London: Hogarth Press and Institute of Psycho-Analysis.

Garfield, S. L., Prager, R. A., & Bergin, A. E. (1971). Evaluating outcome in psychotherapy: A hardy perennial .

Noonan, J. R. (1971). An obsessive-compulsive reaction treated by induced anxiety. American Journal of Psychotherapy , 25(2), 293.

Prochaska, J., & C. DiClemente (1984). The transtheoretical approach: Crossing traditional boundaries of therapy . Homewood, Ill., Dow Jones-Irwin.

Salzman, L. (1980). Treatment of the obsessive personality . Jason Aronson Inc. Publishers.

Shapiro, T., & Emde, R. N. (1991). Introduction: Some Empirical Approaches To Psychoanalysis. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association , 39, 1-3.

Storr, A. (1987). Why psychoanalysis is not a science. Mind-waves .

Svartberg, M., & Stiles, T. C. (1991). Comparative effects of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: a meta-analysis. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology , 59(5), 704.

Wedding, D., & Corsini, R. J. (2013).  Current psychotherapies . Cengage Learning.

Tamara Landau

Tamara Landau is a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist, sculptor and writer, editor of psychoanalytical publications, founding member of the Paris-based Société de Psychanalyse Freudienne and founder of the research group MnemoArt –art, psychoanalysis and science– mnemoart.org .

Tamara Landau leads research seminars at the Société de Psychanalyse Freudienne in Paris.

After a ten-year-long practice with drug-addicts and alcoholic patients in a clinic, she has been carrying out research for thirty years on the origin of addiction to food with female anorexic and bulimic patients in psychoanalytic treatment.

With the passing of time, she has found out that the causes of this addiction are unconscious anxieties linked with reminiscences of their fetal life. This has prompted her to elaborate the theories of the Enclave and of the Inverted Tree, which make it possible to explain and treat eating disorders using analytical therapy.

Subsequently, clinical research with pregnant women and applicants for medically assisted procreation (MAP) has enabled her to tackle the origin of the anguish of death linked with endogenous traumas experienced by all mothers during pregnancy and at childbirth.

Hence, she recommends listening carefully to pregnant or infertile women’s anxieties and fantasies, which helps avert certain pregnancy accidents (miscarriages, premature deliveries and Caesarean sections) and certain psychic and behavioral disorders arising in the child, adolescent and later adult.

She is engaged in a dialogue with researchers of I.N.S.E.R.M. and C.N.R.S. on the subject of her hypotheses, so as to create a bridge between psychoanalysis and neurosciences.

On this site you will find a list of her publications and the introduction, images and making-of of her books, which have been published in Italian and Spanish since 2015.

Tuesday, 20 octobre, 2020

Live en direct avec Mônica Véras, Salvador – Brasil

Dr Mônica Véras , psychanalyste et directrice du NAPSI, Institution de formation psychanalytique à Salvador de Bahia, invite Tamara Landau pour un Live le 20 octobre 2020 en direct à 11h (Salvador do Brasil) – 16h (Paris).

Youtube Mônica Véras Psicanalista

En direct le 20 octobre à 11h Salvador do Brasil – 16h à Paris.

20 October, 2019

Release of the second edition of the book Delivering and Giving Birth in Buenos Aires (Spanish edition)

Release of the second revised and supplemented edition of the book Delivering and Giving Birth by Tamara Landau in the Spanish version Dar a Luz, Dar Vida. Diálogos y Separaciones durante el Embarazo published by Ricardo Vergara, Buenos Aires.

Ricardo Vergara Ediciones , Buenos Aires, Argentina