Psychoanalysis was the first therapeutic method from which all other approaches have evolved. Of course, psychoanalytic therapy has also developed tremendously in the last 120 years thanks to new experiences and knowledge in psychology and neuroscience. We no longer use the same techniques used by Sigmund Freud but his central premise has become widely accepted as true: conscious behavior is only the tip of an iceberg and to change the surface, we need to go deeper.
The goal of modern psychoanalytic therapy is to work collaboratively with clients in exploring and creating new solutions to internal and external situations. The following aspects characterise the therapeutic process:
The traditional goal of psychoanalytic therapy is to make the unconscious conscious so that more emotional resources become available to you, especially in relationships.
Challenges or symptoms must therefore be seen as an invitation to dive deeper. They tell us that something underneath conscious awareness requires our attention. More specifically, these are emotions that are pressing to be integrated into your life and until they manage to do so, they distort your perception of yourself and others. I like to think metaphorically of our emotions as a wild horse that we need to learn how to ride in order to feel energized and happy. Without the skill of "riding" our emotions, they either overwhelm us against our will, causing anxiety and anger, or they withdraw and become unavailable which can lead, for example, to feelings of boredom and that life has no meaning.
During the therapeutic process resources, skills and competencies are rediscovered, and new approaches and solutions are found.
Psychotherapy should help you to:
