Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy originated from the pioneering work of Sigmund Freud in the late 1800s into the early 1900s, but has evolved greatly since Freud’s time. As it was originally conceived, “psychoanalysis” was a high-frequency (typically 4-5 days per week) treatment that entailed lying on a couch in a relaxed state and “free associating,” which involved the patient saying whatever came to their mind without censoring themselves. Through this process of speaking freely without the pressure of looking at the therapist, the patient was thought to have the most optimal setting to verbalize their honest thoughts and deeper feelings, which the therapist would help them make sense of.
Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy, on the other hand, remains faithful to some principles of psychoanalysis, such as encouraging the patient to say whatever is on their mind and helping to clarify and make sense of internal experience. However, psychoanalytic therapy does not always follow the same framework of high frequency sessions or lying on the couch, though these can often be beneficial for some patients.
Psychoanalytic therapy, in a basic sense, is a collaborative process of exploring our internal experience–our thoughts, feelings, fantasies, and nightly dreams–in order to develop greater curiosity about and awareness of one’s self. This awareness is often useful in understanding and changing lifelong patterns of relating to ourselves and others which have gotten in the way of a satisfying life. A psychoanalytic therapist like myself seeks to clarify and understand more about the internal experience of my patients, hoping to work together to make connections that will enable greater freedom from self-destructive patterns and that can assist in developing a more realistic self-image. There is no topic that is outside the bounds of therapy, though it often takes time to feel more trust and comfort in voicing our most honest thoughts and feelings.
While psychoanalytic therapy often requires patience and perseverance from both the therapist and the patient, the goal is always to get something valuable from each session.