Psychoanalysis is a process of deep exploration of the unconscious psychic processes of the individual, within the relationship between the analyst and patient in the consulting room. The patient is encouraged to reflect on matters/thoughts/feelings uppermost in the mind during regular 50-minute sessions with the analyst.
Image of Melanie Klein: Wellcome Library | License: CC-BY-NC
Feelings, thoughts, wishes, fears, memories and dreams can be explored in order to help the individual understand the unconscious processes which affect their conscious thoughts and behaviours brought to their external lives. In this way, psychoanalysis may gradually bring about change through a greater degree of self-understanding to enable the individual to find the way forward to living more authentically and to deal better with the realities of adult life.
Whatever the problem with which the individual struggles, the need for a thorough evaluation is recommended to determine who will benefit – and who will not- from psychoanalysis. This is the aim and purpose of BPA Clinical Service.
History of Psychoanalysis
Most people will have an awareness that psychoanalysis is something to do with Sigmund Freud. Perhaps this awareness might also involve a sense of it being about ‘dreams’ and ‘sexuality’, and that his theories and the impact of them have found their way into many expressions commonly used today, such as ‘sex drive’, ‘libido’, ‘Freudian slip’, ‘Oedipal complex’ and so on. As Freud has such an enduring presence in the minds of people, it is important to understand his influence upon both the foundation and on-going evolution of psychoanalysis.
Freud began to examine and question disorders of the mind in the 1890’s. He noticed, over time, certain characteristics of the people he saw which he was able to trace back to their childhood experiences and fantasies. This created a great deal of controversy at the time.
In particular, he was able to show there was a relationship between feelings, behaviour and how the mind worked. He found that these ‘neuroses’ (or symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, distress, obsessive behaviour and so on) could be alleviated by listening to someone in an ‘analytic’ manner.
From his work he realised that much of the disturbance which might be at the root of these neuroses was in fact outside of conscious awareness. This realm of the ‘unconscious’ started to become greatly important in how he thought about people in difficulty, and how he formulated his theories. He developed a treatment based upon uncovering the ‘unconscious’ sources of these neuroses and the ‘defences’ that might be employed in order to protect against emotional pain.
Freud was a forerunner in recognising the significance of early relationships, how the past influences the present and how it sets patterns of behaviour that continue into adulthood. His work is now recognised as fundamental to the understanding of child development, childhood disorders, the struggles of adolescence and all aspects of adult mental functioning.
Today
In the time since Freud began to formulate his theories, there has been much elaboration, expansion and revision of his ideas. Psychoanalysis has spread throughout the world and there have been many notable Psychoanalysts who have contributed to this ever-growing body of thinking. Prominent British based psychoanalysts have been Melanie Klein, Donald Winnicott, Wilfred Bion, Hanna Segal, Anna Freud, to name but a few. These Psychoanalysts have gone on to develop theories which look at the forces at play in very early infancy (Klein), the importance of the mother-baby relationship (Winnicott) and the conditions needed for a ‘thought’ to be able to emerge into awareness (Bion).
Psychoanalysis today represents a lively and ever-growing family of thoughts which can challenge and complement each other, but all have, to a greater or lesser extent, a firm starting point in the work that Freud did.
Being in Analysis
There are a range of difficulties that can be helped by psychoanalysis: depression, anxiety, obsessions, difficulties within relationships, problems of self-image, eating disorders, identity confusion, psychosomatic symptoms and so on. Psychoanalysis requires work and commitment on the part of both the analyst and the person seeking help in order for notable shifts to occur. Trust needs to be built up for a person to begin to feel secure enough to explore their inner thoughts, traumas and fantasies. It is an intensive experience requiring regular attendance several times a week. As a result of this intensity, which is different to other therapies, deeper issues can be reached.
Psychoanalysis is also different to other therapies in the importance it places on ‘free association’, ‘interpretation’ and ‘transference’. Essentially, the person is asked to try to say whatever comes to their mind which the psychoanalyst then seeks to interpret. The analyst reaches the interpretation using their understanding of the person’s unconscious mind, their history and the awareness of what is happening between the person and the analyst (the transference) at that particular moment. Most analysts will also use dream interpretation as an important aid to understand the unconscious.
Over time, the work leads to greater self-knowledge, a reduction in the difficulties which have caused the seeking of help and, ultimately, a profound and beneficial impact in how life is experienced.