Psychoanalysis
What is Psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis is a depth-oriented form of Psychodynamic psychotherapy that explores unconscious processes, early life experiences, and internal conflicts that shape thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Rooted in the work of Sigmund Freud, Psychoanalysis seeks to bring hidden aspects of the psyche into awareness through free association, dream analysis, and the therapeutic relationship itself.
How Does Psychoanalysis Work?
Psychoanalysis typically involves long-term, intensive therapy where patients explore unconscious conflicts, recurring relational patterns, and unresolved emotional wounds. Sessions often occur multiple times per week, with the therapist fostering insight through interpretation, reflection, and emotional exploration. This higher frequency of 3 to 5 sessions per week is to create an effective engagement with the unconscious mind, allowing for deeply buried thoughts, memories, and emotions to be explored. This frequency would help cause transference, where the patient’s unconscious feelings and patterns are projected onto the analyst. This would then allow the analyst and patient to uncover and resolve conflicts that may not be possible in less frequent sessions and, therefore, require a level of commitment and depth that would be possible through multiple sessions per week.
What Makes Psychoanalysis Different from Other Therapies?
Unlike short-term therapies that focus solely on symptom relief, Psychoanalysis seeks deep structural change by uncovering and working through the root causes of emotional distress. It places emphasis on past experiences, unconscious motivations, and the therapeutic relationship to create change.
Key Concepts in Psychoanalysis
The Unconscious Mind
Thoughts, memories, and desires outside of conscious awareness that influence behaviour.
Defense Mechanisms
Unconscious strategies, such as repression or projection, that protect against anxiety.
Transference and Countertransference
The emotional dynamics between patient and therapist that mirror past relationships.
Psychosexual Development
Freud’s theory of how childhood experiences shape personality and emotions.
The Id, Ego, and Superego
The three components of the psyche that govern desires, rational thought, and moral conscience.
Who Can Benefit from Psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis is particularly beneficial for individuals struggling with:
Persistent emotional difficulties (e.g., depression, anxiety, trauma)
Repeating patterns in relationships or self-sabotaging behaviours
Unresolved childhood experiences that affect present-day functioning
Identity confusion, existential concerns, or a lack of fulfillment
Personality disorders and complex psychological conditions
What Can You Expect from Psychoanalysis?
Sessions are typically held in a quiet, reflective setting, sometimes using the traditional analytic couch (if sessions are through the phone). Patients are encouraged to freely express thoughts and feelings, allowing unconscious material to emerge. The therapist provides interpretations, helping the patient gain deeper insight and emotional clarity over time.
Is Psychoanalysis Right for You?
If you're seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, long-term emotional change, and a therapy that goes beyond symptom management, psychoanalysis may be a good fit. It requires commitment, curiosity, and a willingness to explore unconscious patterns. You can always book a consultation with one of our Registered Psychotherapists to discuss more!