Psychoanalytic Therapy Case Study

Psychoanalytic Therapy looks at how the unconscious mind influences thoughts and behaviors. Psychoanalysis frequently involves looking at early childhood experiences in order to discover how these events might have shaped the individual and how those events impact current actions. While undergoing psychoanalytic therapy, people usually meet with their therapist at least once a week and often times remain in therapy for a number of weeks, months, or even years.
Psychoanalytic theory grew out of the work of the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud who began developing his therapeutic techniques in the late 1800s. Freud described the unconscious as the reservoir of desires, thoughts, and memories that are below the surface of conscious awareness.

Breuer described his treatment of a young woman, known in the case history as Anna O., whose symptoms of hysteria were relieved by talking about her traumatic experiences. Freud and Breuer collaborated on a book, Studies on Hysteria and Freud continued to develop his use of this “talk therapy”. This approach proposed that talking about problems simply could help relieve psychological distress.
In regards to how psychoanalytic therapy works, therapists typically spend time actively listening to patients talk about their lives. The therapist looks for patterns or events of significance that may play a role in the patient’s current difficulties. Psychoanalysts believe that unconscious feelings and childhood events, thoughts and motivations play a role in current behaviors and mental

Supposedly, we reveal what is really on our mind by saying something we didn’t truly intend to. As one has put it before, “when you say one thing and mean your mother”. Sigmund Freud believed that slips of the tongue provided an insight into the unconscious mind and that accidents didn’t just happen or exist. Every behavior including slips of the tongue were significant. Supposedly, what the Freudian slip hides is called Shadow Archetype. Often these turn out to be innuendos or other sexual references.
Another simple yet effective technique in psychoanalytic therapy is Free Association in which a client talks about whatever comes to mind. This involves a therapy provider reading a list of words and the client immediately responds with the first word that comes to mind. It is said that fragments of repressed memories will emerge in the process of free association. Freud reported that his free associating patients experienced such an emotionally intense and vivid memory that they would almost relive the experience. Often, these intense emotional experiences gave Freud crucial insight into the patient’s