Psychoanalytic Therapy

Psychoanalytic Therapy 1. Key Assumptions and Definitions of the Theory It has been revealed that human beings are prone to a wide range of psychological disorders regardless of their social and economic status. Some of the major psychological disorders that impact heavily on a large number of people across the world include depression, stress and anxiety among others. Psychologists have developed numerous strategies with an aim of effectively tackling these disorders. Chemotherapy, psychosurgery, electroconvulsive therapy, drugs, and psychotherapy are among the commonly used strategies in the treatment of these disorders. This article is going to look at psychoanalytic therapy as a means to effectively manage psychological disorders.

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Psychoanalytic therapy also referred to as psychoanalysis or psychodynamic therapy is a form of depth psychology, which primarily focuses on revealing the unconscious content of an individual’s psyche with an aim of alleviating psychic tension (Behrendt 47). Psychoanalytic therapy is believed to rely more on interpersonal association between the patient and the therapist as compared to other therapeutic measures. Psychoanalytic therapy has also been shown to be more eclectic than other treatment modalities. Rather than relying on a specific form of intervention, it integrates techniques from a wide range of sources. Psychoanalytic therapy has been made use of in more than one context over the years. Psychologists agree that they use it in family therapy, individual therapy, and group psychotherapy to comprehend and work with organizational and institutional contexts (Gedo 117). Even though psychoanalytic therapy can take numerous forms, there are some common factors in all these forms. These factors include a focus on the role played by intrinsic and unconscious conflicts on psychological development of an individual, as well as a perception that trust between the therapist and client is vital for therapeutic success (Holmes 74).

Psychoanalytic therapy was developed from the principles of Freudian psychoanalysis, which is based on the perception that the feelings and emotions portrayed by an individual largely depend on an individual’s past experiences. Psychoanalytic therapy employs an openended evaluation of a client’s emotions for a period of one to two weeks or even years. This evaluation is aimed at determining the feeling that a patient is aware of, as well as the feelings he or she may not be aware of.

One of the major assumptions associated with this therapy is that it is less intense as compared to other forms of psychological therapy. This implies that psychoanalytic therapy has a decreased focus on sexual and other aggressive drives. Another assumption associated with this

theory is that over emphasis on the influence of previous relationships on the current relationship decreases the acting out of unconscious content. The psychoanalytic theory, as stated by Sundberg, points out that, “In mental realms, all things that have once been formed remain like that forever… all things are to a certain extent preserved and…under suitable circumstance all these things can be brought to light” (76).

It has been revealed that almost all psychoanalytic approaches are centered on the perception that there is a form of maladaptive functioning in play. This maladaption is the unconscious aspect that must be unearthed if treatment is to achieve success. This maladaption, which is presumed to develop during childhood, is believed to cause dissonance in the life of an individual with time (Behrendt 84). Psychoanalytic therapy focuses on bringing to light and resolving the unconscious aspects that are associated with specific symptoms.

2. Interventions, Techniques, and/Or Exercises Emanating from the Theory The psychoanalytic theory makes use of a wide range of techniques to reveal unconscious conflicts. Some of these techniques include free association, interpretation, emotional and intellectual insight, transference, resistance, and dream analysis (Behrendt 90). Other techniques that have been widely used are counter transference, client-centered therapy, and brief psychodynamic therapy. Transference can, in simple terms, be described as a projection of traits of important people in the life of a patient onto the therapist. The therapeutic relationship is used as a means of transformation, thereby allowing for the client to reenact unresolved conflicts of childhood. Transference is also believed to create room for emotional re-education with a reassuring and understanding person, thereby gradually minimizing anxiety (Sundberg 81).

Client-centered therapy, on the other hand, increases a client’s potential for growth as well as self actualization by way of empathy and unconditional positive regard. This implies that the

therapist portrays a real, non judgmental and unlimited acceptance of the patient. This technique enables patients to minimize the variation between the patient’s experiences and self image. In both group and individual therapy, the therapist is required to create an atmosphere of trust (Gedo 136). Play therapy is important when dealing with children suffering from psychological disorders. A playful approach helps to put the therapist and the children on the same level, thereby enhancing the success of treatment.

The first intervention of a psychoanalytic therapist is treatment of discomfort associated with psychological malfunctioning. The therapist then assists the patient to come to terms with the existence of unconscious conflicts while working with him or her to create rational strategies for change (Holmes 107). The patients are also assisted to deal with painful memories, thereby enabling them to live a near normal kind of life.

3. What aspects of this psychoanalytic theory do you like/find effective?

One of the major factors that I like concerning psychoanalytic therapy is that patients are encouraged to talk freely concerning the issues that might be affecting them psychologically.

Through opening one's mind to the therapist, specific patterns of behavior, feelings, together with unconscious emotions that emanate from past events are made apparent. The aspect of putting more emphasis on those patterns makes it easier for patients to understand how past experiences in conjunction with the unconscious mind may be affecting their present lives.

The other important factor associated with psychoanalytic therapy is that it is not a timelimited-treatment. Some treatment courses may take up to 20 weeks or even a year, an aspect that has been shown to increase the likelihood of achieving the intended objective. The assumption that the reduction of symptoms can result in cure without dealing with the underlying conflicts plays a major role in shaping the success of therapy. The act of the therapist acting as a blank

screen disclosing very little concerning his or her live is a unique feature in psychoanalytic therapy that enables patients to work on their unconscious feeling without interference from outside (Gedo 144).

The other aspect that I find important in psychoanalytic therapy is the use of numerous techniques projected towards attainment of one major objective. One of these techniques is the encouragement given to patients to enable them develop meanings of symptoms as well as insights into their behavior. I also like that fact that an egalitarian association is created between the patient and the therapist, thereby making it easy for them to work collaboratively on the patient’s problems. Sharing of internal feelings helps alleviate the emotional burden that may affect an individual psychologically. The perception that unconscious feelings and childhood experiences play a major role in shaping the psychological development of a person compels therapists to listen attentively to patients’ revelations. This increases their ability to identify patterns and events that may be contributing to the current crisis.

4. What aspects of this psychoanalytic theory do you not like/do not find effective?

Even though psychoanalytic therapy is effective in the management of various psychological disorders, there are some disadvantages associated with it. One of them is that this treatment modality is expensive and time consuming. This therapy is believed to have the capacity to impact negatively on the financial status of a patient together with his or her family since it may take years to come to a successful completion. The effectiveness of psychoanalytic therapy has also been subjected to extensive questioning. Some studies have revealed that this treatment modality is not as effective as presumed. It has been revealed that treatment cannot be achieved if a trusting relationship is not established between the client and the therapist. There is also a high possibility of clients failing to attend sessions after sometimes, thereby decreasing

their chances of being healed (Behrendt 103). In psychotherapy, individual distress is viewed as a resultant factor of human relationship problems, whereas in actual sense it might be symptoms of an underlying personal disorder. Dealing with symptoms of an underlying psychological disorder may not bring the much intended healing.

5. How does this psychoanalytic theory interact with cultures other than the dominant (Euro-American) culture?

Explore this cross-cultural lens.

Psychoanalytic therapy is widely considered a talk therapy. This is based on the fact that it involves extensive questioning and revelation of a patient’s internal feeling that may have developed as a result of an event that occurred in the past. Patients are provided with an opportunity to reveal internal feelings that have the possibility of impacting on their psychological growth. The intensive probing is believed to be beneficial for non-mainstream cultures as it helps bring to light some of the practices that may not foster psychological development in individuals, but rather subject them to long-term suffering (Gedo 167). It is also believed to help people from minority cultures to explore their emotions as well as internal feelings they may not be conscious of. Children from non-mainstream cultures are subjected to a wide range of experiences, some of which may have negative implications on their present as well as their future lives (Behrendt 176). Birth order, which is considered an important family aspect in almost all cultures, is believed to have the capacity to influence personality development. Birth order is also believed to have the capacity to impact on the effectiveness of psychotherapy. There is high possibility of elderly family members in some communities failing to disclose their childhood experiences that may result in embarrassment. The elderly persons may also repress some feelings if younger members of family become more successful.

Considering that psychoanalytic therapy is a talk therapy, failure to disclose all internals feeling to a therapist may hamper treatment.

6. What about this psychoanalytic theory would you like to pursue (study in more depth) in the future?

A closer look at the use of psychoanalytic therapy in the management of psychological disorders reveals that further studies need to be carried out to unearth more information that might help close the gap between theory and practice. I would also like to conduct further studies to determine whether psychoanalytic therapy may be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities.

Works Cited Behrendt, Ralf-Peter. The Evolved Structure of Human Social Behaviour and Personality: Psychoanalytic Insights, London, UK: Karnac Books, 2012. Print.

Gedo, John. Psychoanalysis as Biological Science: A Comprehensive Theory, Baltimore, MA: JHU Press, 2004. Print.

Holmes, Jeremy. Exploring in Security: Towards an Attachment-Informed Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, New York, NY: Taylor & Francis, 2010. Print.

Sundberg, Norman. Clinical Psychology: Evolving Theory, Practice, and Research. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall. 2001. Print.