What is Psychoanalysis?

Summary

In this discussion, Susan Moore and Professor Dawn Corvette delve into the intricacies of psychoanalysis. They define it as a form of talk therapy that aims to bring unconscious thoughts and feelings into consciousness, addressing deep-rooted issues often linked to childhood traumas. The conversation contrasts psychoanalysis with other therapies like CBT, highlighting its focus on character structure and personality. The use of the couch in therapy is explained as a tool to facilitate regression and access unconscious elements, such as dreams and fantasies. The dialogue also touches on the evolution of psychoanalysis since Freud, with contributions from Melanie Klein, Donald Winnicott, and John Bowlby, emphasizing the importance of a multifaceted approach to understanding the human psyche.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Psychoanalysis is a form of psychotherapy that involves talk therapy, where patients are encouraged to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings without censorship.
• 🔍 The goal of psychoanalysis is to bring unconscious thoughts and repressed feelings into consciousness to address the root causes of a person's problems.
• 🤔 The difference between psychoanalysis and other therapies like CBT is that psychoanalysis aims to address deeply rooted issues in a person's character and personality, often originating from childhood.
• 🛋 The use of a couch in psychoanalysis helps to 'triangulate' the relationship, facilitating the patient's access to fantasies, dreams, and feelings by promoting a certain amount of regression.
• 🌱 Dreams and fantasies are considered important in psychoanalysis as they provide a window into the unconscious mind, which is key to understanding the patient's conflicts and pain.
• 🤷‍♀️ Defense mechanisms, such as repression, are used by individuals to protect themselves from painful emotions and memories, which can lead to issues like depression or psychosomatic illnesses.
• 👶 The pre-Oedipal period and early mother-infant relationships are crucial areas of focus in psychoanalysis, with significant contributions from Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott.
• 🔗 John Bowlby's attachment theory has greatly influenced psychoanalysis, emphasizing the importance of early attachments and their impact on an individual's psychological development.
• 📚 Psychoanalysis has evolved since Freud's time, incorporating theories from various analysts, and modern psychoanalytic institutes teach a range of perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding.
• 🧠 The practice of psychoanalysis requires analysts to be open to multiple viewpoints and to understand the patient's psychic reality from various angles.

Q & A

What is psychoanalysis and how does it differ from other forms of talk therapy?

Psychoanalysis is a form of psychotherapy that involves talk therapy, where patients are encouraged to speak freely without censoring themselves. It aims to bring unconscious thoughts and feelings into consciousness, which are believed to be at the root of many psychological issues. Unlike briefer and less intense therapies like CBT, psychoanalysis seeks to address deeply rooted problems in the character structure that often originate from childhood.

Why might someone seek psychoanalytical treatment?

A person might seek psychoanalytical treatment if they are experiencing problems that are deeply rooted in their personality structure and have origins in childhood trauma or pain. Psychoanalysis aims to unravel these deep-seated issues over an extended period of time.

What is the significance of the couch in psychoanalytic therapy?

The couch in psychoanalytic therapy is used to triangulate the relationship between the analyst and the patient, facilitating a focus on the patient's life and experiences rather than just the interaction between the two. It promotes regression, allowing the patient to access feelings, fantasies, and fleeting thoughts more easily.

Why are childhood memories, dreams, and fantasies important in psychoanalysis?

Childhood memories, dreams, and fantasies are important in psychoanalysis because they provide access to the unconscious mind. These elements often encapsulate childhood pain and conflicts that are repressed or inhibited, and understanding them is crucial for resolving the issues that brought the person to analysis.

How does the concept of regression play a role in psychoanalysis?

Regression in psychoanalysis refers to the process where patients become less reality-oriented and more focused on feelings, fantasies, and fleeting thoughts. This regression is facilitated by the use of the couch and helps patients to access unconscious material that is crucial for the therapeutic process.

What is the role of dreams in psychoanalytic treatment?

Dreams are considered the 'Royal Road to the unconscious' in psychoanalysis. They provide a window into the unconscious mind and can encapsulate childhood pain, conflicts, and repressed emotions. Analyzing dreams is a key part of understanding the patient's unconscious processes.

How does psychoanalysis view the concept of depression?

From a psychoanalytic perspective, depression is often seen as anger turned inwards. It can result from bottling up emotions and memories that are painful, leading to self-directed anger and sadness.

How has psychoanalysis evolved since Freud's time?

Psychoanalysis has evolved significantly since Freud's time, with contributions from analysts like Melanie Klein, Anna Freud, Donald Winnicott, and John Bowlby. They have expanded the understanding of the pre-Oedipal period, mother-infant relationships, attachment theory, and the biological aspects of human behavior.

Why is it important for psychoanalysts to be exposed to multiple points of view in their training?

Psychoanalysts should be exposed to multiple points of view during their training to ensure they can understand and address the diverse aspects of a patient's psychic reality. This exposure allows them to listen and respond effectively to the complex and multifaceted nature of human psychology.

What is the significance of the pre-Oedipal period in psychoanalysis?

The pre-Oedipal period, which focuses on the mother-infant relationship, is significant in psychoanalysis as it provides insight into early emotional development and attachment. This period was largely unexplored by Freud and was further developed by analysts like Melanie Klein and Donald Winnicott.

How does the concept of defense mechanisms relate to psychoanalysis?

Defense mechanisms in psychoanalysis refer to the psychological strategies people use to protect themselves from painful emotions and memories. These mechanisms can lead to repression and the development of neurotic symptoms, which psychoanalysis aims to uncover and resolve.

Outlines

00:00

💬 Introduction to Psychoanalysis

Susan Moore, a psychoanalyst, and Professor Dawn Corvette discuss the nature of psychoanalysis as a form of deep psychotherapy. Psychoanalysis is described as 'talk therapy' that aims to bring unconscious thoughts and feelings into consciousness, often related to repressed emotions and memories from childhood. It is particularly suited for deeply rooted personality issues. The conversation distinguishes psychoanalysis from other therapies like CBT, highlighting its focus on the root causes of problems rather than symptom relief. The use of the couch in psychoanalysis is also explained, suggesting it facilitates regression and introspection, aiding patients in exploring their unconscious mind.

05:00

🌱 The Role of Dreams and Unconscious in Psychoanalysis

The dialogue emphasizes the importance of dreams, daydreams, and fantasies in psychoanalysis. Dreams are referred to as the 'Royal Road to the unconscious,' revealing childhood traumas and conflicts. The conversation suggests that unconscious material is often defended against due to its painful nature. This defense mechanism can lead to neurosis, depression, or psychosomatic illnesses when emotions like anger are turned inward. The paragraph also touches on how early childhood experiences shape our emotional responses and how psychoanalysis aims to decode these early patterns to treat present issues.

10:01

📚 Evolution of Psychoanalysis Beyond Freud

The conversation highlights the evolution of psychoanalysis since Freud's time, acknowledging his foundational role while also recognizing the contributions of other analysts. Melanie Klein is noted for her focus on the pre-Oedipal period and the mother-infant relationship, filling gaps in Freud's theories. Donald Winnicott's work with pediatrics and early mother-infant connections is mentioned, along with John Bowlby's attachment theory. The paragraph stresses the importance of a multi-perspective approach in psychoanalysis, advocating for an understanding of various viewpoints to fully appreciate a patient's psychic reality.

Keywords

💡Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is a form of psychotherapy that involves deep exploration of the unconscious mind. It is a therapeutic process where patients are encouraged to speak freely about their thoughts and feelings without censorship, aiming to bring repressed emotions and memories into consciousness. In the script, it is discussed as a treatment that goes beyond surface issues to address deeply rooted problems often originating in childhood.

💡Free Association

Free association is a technique used in psychoanalysis where patients are invited to express their thoughts as they come to mind, without self-censorship. This method helps in uncovering unconscious material that may be contributing to psychological symptoms. The script mentions free association as a fundamental aspect of psychoanalytic treatment.

💡Unconscious

The unconscious refers to the part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and feelings that are not currently in awareness. In the context of the video, bringing unconscious material to consciousness is a key goal of psychoanalysis, as it is believed to hold repressed feelings and memories that contribute to psychological issues.

💡Repression

Repression is a defense mechanism where threatening or uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or memories are unconsciously pushed out of conscious awareness. The script discusses repression as a central factor in the problems that lead individuals to seek psychoanalytic treatment.

💡Couch

The couch is a traditional piece of furniture used in psychoanalysis, where the patient lies down while the analyst sits out of sight. This setup is said to facilitate the patient's access to their inner thoughts and feelings. The script explains how the use of the couch can help in promoting regression and accessing unconscious material.

💡Regression

Regression in psychoanalysis refers to the process of returning to an earlier emotional state, often during therapy, which can help patients access and work through unresolved issues from their past. The script mentions regression as a beneficial aspect of using the couch in psychoanalytic sessions.

💡Dreams

Dreams are considered a 'royal road' to the unconscious in psychoanalysis. They are seen as a window into unconscious thoughts and desires. The script highlights the importance of dreams in psychoanalysis, particularly repetitive dreams that may encapsulate childhood pain and conflicts.

💡Defense Mechanisms

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies that protect an individual from anxiety or psychological conflict. They include repression, denial, and projection. The script discusses how defense mechanisms work to keep painful emotions and memories unconscious, leading to various psychological issues.

💡Neurosis

Neurosis is a term used to describe a range of mental disorders characterized by symptoms that are not psychotic but are indicative of underlying emotional conflict. The script mentions neurosis in the context of individuals bottling up emotions like anger, which can lead to depression or other issues.

💡Psychosomatic Illness

Psychosomatic illness refers to physical symptoms that are caused or exacerbated by psychological factors, such as stress or repressed emotions. The script discusses how bottling up anger can lead to psychosomatic illnesses, such as rashes, asthma, or migraines.

💡Attachment Theory

Attachment theory, introduced by John Bowlby, is a psychological model that describes the dynamics of long-term interpersonal relationships. It emphasizes the importance of early childhood attachments in shaping an individual's future relationships and emotional well-being. The script mentions attachment theory as a significant evolution in psychoanalytic thought.

Highlights

Psychoanalysis is a form of psychotherapy that involves talk therapy and aims to bring unconscious material into consciousness.

Patients are offered complete confidentiality and are encouraged to speak freely without censoring themselves.

The goal is to discuss repressed feelings and memories that contribute to the individual's problems.

Psychoanalysis is particularly suitable for deeply rooted personality issues with origins in childhood.

Other forms of therapy, like CBT, may not address the deep roots of problems as effectively as psychoanalysis.

The use of a couch in psychoanalysis facilitates regression and allows patients to explore feelings, fantasies, and dreams.

Dreams are considered a royal road to the unconscious and are crucial in psychoanalysis.

Daydreams and spontaneous fantasies are also important in accessing the unconscious mind.

Defense mechanisms against painful emotions and memories can lead to neurosis and psychosomatic illnesses.

Depression is viewed as anger turned on the self in psychoanalytic theory.

Psychoanalysis has evolved since Freud's time, with contributions from Klein, Winnicott, and Bowlby.

Melanie Klein's work focused on the pre-Oedipal period and the mother-infant relationship.

Donald Winnicott brought pediatric insights into psychoanalysis, emphasizing early mother-infant connections.

John Bowlby's attachment theory has been a significant contribution to understanding early separations and their effects on children.

Psychoanalytic institutes teach multiple points of view, recognizing the evolution and breadth of the field.

Psychoanalysis is not static and has adapted to include various perspectives and advancements in the field.

Transcripts

I'm Susan Moore I'm a psychoanalyst and

a graduate of the Toronto Institute of

psychoanalysis and a member of the

Toronto psychoanalytic Society I'm here

with Professor dawn Corvette a training

and supervising analyst and the former

director of the Toronto Institute of

psychoanalysis let's begin with a fairly

broad but a sort of a fundamental

question what is psychoanalysis and what

are some of the reasons a person might

seek out psychoanalytical treatment it's

a form of psychotherapy it's a talk

therapy it precedes really by offering

patients an opportunity to engage in

free speech the patient has offered

complete confidentiality and is

encouraged or invited to try to put

everything into words without censoring

himself or herself to speak freely one

is speaking to a professional who is

non-judgmental the whole purpose of this

is really to try to bring what has been

unconscious into consciousness that

which has been repressed inhibited

bottled up pushed down is able to come

to consciousness and be discussed

because the bottling up and the pushing

down of these feelings these memories we

believe plays a central role in the

problems that have brought the person to

analysis in the first place what is the

difference in between psychoanalysis and

other forms of talk therapies like CBT

for example psychoanalysis and

psychoanalytic psychotherapy are really

the treatments of choice when the

problem is deeply rooted in in the

character structure in the personality

structure and has its origins in

childhood often in childhood pain trauma

other forms of psychotherapy that are

briefer that are less intense can't

really get at the roots of the problem

in the way that psychoanalysis and

psychoanalytic therapy aim to do a lot

of different problems bring people to

treatment but analysis is trying to get

to the roots and that's why the the

therapy is so intense and why it takes a

considerable period of time to to

unravel all of this so someone entering

psychoanalysis for the first time might

wonder about the use of the couch what

that's for how the psychoanalytic

process works how would you describe

that to well so first of all not all

analysts use the couch not all analysts

use the couch all the time the couch

triangulates the relationship I'll say

what I mean by triangulating if I'm

sitting behind and you're lying on the

couch it's as if you and I are both

looking at a third thing some spot on

the wall whatever but we're looking at

that third thing and that third space

that we're looking at is your life your

life as it includes me in this room now

your life with your husband and your

kids but it's not about you and me

exactly anymore although what's going on

between you and me comes into it for

sure but we're looking on at a third

thing and somehow that facilitates it

also it makes it easier for the patient

to get in touch with fantasy to get in

touch with dreams to get in touch with

feelings the use of the couch promotes a

certain amount of regression where

by the patient becomes a little less

reality oriented and a little bit more

oriented towards feelings and fantasies

and fleeting thoughts people often

associate psychoanalysis with things

like childhood memories or dreams and

fantasies

why are those things so important to

psychoanalysis remember again we're

trying to get at what's unconscious

I mean intelligent people are already

able to understand themselves on the

conscious level to a considerable degree

they're able to figure things out

insofar as they're conscious but if

they're unconscious of something then

it's not available for them to

rationally you know reason about we need

to get at the unconscious Freud called

dreams the Royal Road to the unconscious

dreams really do

into the unconscious I feel that like if

a patient I'm meeting a patient for the

first time and he or she tells me I've

had a repetitive dream since childhood

and I'm still having it I'm saying this

is gold okay tell me this dream because

because that dream is going to

encapsulate their childhood pain it's

going to encapsulate their conflicts I

mean it's repetitive for a good reason

why is the dream repeating because

there's something important in that

dream that that that that needs to be

understood and decoded so dreams are

important but so are daydreams so are

just spontaneous fantasies patient

reports that on the on the bus to my

office for some reason he went into this

long daydream while that's pretty

interesting that he goes into that

particular daydream on his way to see me

so again we're trying to get at what's

unconscious why is it unconscious

because because there are defenses

against it because people are defending

against emotions and memories that are

painful they're they're defending

against truths

that are painful that make them anxious

that make them sad that make them angry

people are often neurotic because

they're deeply angry but they don't know

it they won't know it they don't want to

know it so what are they doing with

their anger they're bottling it up and

it gets turned on themselves and now

they're depressed I mean from a

psychoanalytic point of view that is

what depression is it is anger turn on

the self why are they doing this why are

they bottling up the anger because as

kids if your parents make you incredibly

angry that you may not dare to show your

anger because that will make the parents

angrier

that may lead to punishment it mean lead

to rejection so you learn early in

childhood to stifle your anger and you

may learn to turn it on yourself or you

may learn to turn that anger on other

people and become a bully or to

victimize others in some way dumping the

anger on others dumping the anger on

oneself or you may turn the anger into

your own body and make yourself sick

there's the whole field of psychosomatic

illness where where people develop all

kinds of conditions rashes asthma

migraines all kinds of things as a

result of deep anger that is bottled up

and turned against the self

so you mentioned Freud and

psychoanalysis has been around for over

a hundred years now and one of the myths

about psychoanalysis is that it's all

about Freud or some people think it's

out of date can you speak now - how

psychoanalysis has evolved both

theoretically and clinically over times

since Freud right well Freud died in

1939 that's a long time ago there's been

a lot of evolution I mean he is the

founding father where we are standing on

his shoulders

Melanie Klein made a crucially important

contribution to psychoanalysis but

Melanie Klein thought of herself as a

Freudian if I have to attach a label to

myself I would call myself a kleinian

Freudian mrs. Klein was a woman Freud

was a very patriarchal male he had real

blind spots which he was aware of he

referred to the so called pre oedipal

period from birth to about two and a

half as a Dark Continent he said it was

all shadowy to him he said it will be

the women analysts who will tell us

about this and he was right the women

analyst Melanie Klein his daughter Anna

Freud filled in that whole pre oedipal

period which instead of being a triad as

in the oedipal phase the threesome

mother father child which Freud mapped

very thoroughly Klein focused on the

dyadic period pre edible period of the

mother infant relationship and then so

did Donald Winnicott Donald Winnicott

was a pediatrician he worked with

mothers and babies and he brought that

awareness into psychoanalysis like Klein

well he was very influenced by Klein but

he extended the Klein influence into

more insight into early mother infant

connections and then of course John

Bowlby and attachment theory a huge

contribution I mean all of those kids

were moved out of London during the

bombing during the Second World War and

he began to study the effects of these

early separations on on children and he

started to study attachment and loss and

mourning and separation anxiety and and

he saw that we that our attachments are

a part of our biological heritage he

studied primates and you know our

primate cousins form attachment we form

attachments and this was carefully

studied often in sort of experimental

ways and that's a huge con

abuse to the development of

psychoanalysis so many developments

since Freud and all responsible

psychoanalytic Institute's I believe

teach all of the main points of view and

Institute the taught only Freud or that

taught only Klein or that taught only

Jacques Lacan this isn't valid because

we need to be exposed to all of the

major thinkers and we we need to be able

to listen from multiple points of view

right and also I think there's an and a

tradition and ancestry yet that they

follow you know that begins with Freud

we can see how it changes over time it's

very tempting to identify with one

perspective but it's not right to

identify with one perspective because

you know you're you're closing your eyes

and your ears two important elements of

the patient's psychic reality that we'll

only be able to be accessed if you can

hear from multiple points of view