The Basics of Psychoanalytic Therapy

Understand how psychonanalytic therapy works and what the basics of the therapeutic approach are.

Talk To Us Today

Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis is one of the psychodynamic therapy methods and was developed by Sigmund Freud. At the centre of this type of therapy is a focus on unconscious conflicts, which the psychoanalyst is supposed to bring to resolution through interpretation.
Subsequent approaches to psychotherapy based on psychoanalytic therapy are often called psychodynamic therapies.

Learn more about psychoanalytic treatments and counselling services in order to have a solid understanding of it. This can serve as a grounding in order to engage in the right kind of therapeutic intervention.

What is Psychoanalytic Therapy and Treatment?

Psychoanalytic therapy is a form of talk therapy that explores the influence of the unconscious on one’s everyday life. Deeply influenced by Freud’s psychological theories, psychoanalytic therapists work to unlock repressed memories and emotions and aim to understand them. This is done in order to safely understand and manage how the unconscious affects an individual’s daily life.
People who undergo psychoanalytic treatments may remain in therapy for months to years. It is highly personal, each person will have a different experience. Following the basics of Freud’s theory, your therapist will help you enact change and improvement in your life based on unlocking and examining your unconscious.
Psychoanalytic treatment covers a wide range of therapy and counselling processes suited for various psychological conditions or mental health struggles. These techniques aim to uncover significant patterns or potential triggers within your past and unconscious. Most importantly, these techniques should only be practiced by trained professionals in a safe environment.
Below are some of the most common techniques used in psychoanalytic treatment and individual counselling in London:

Free Association

Free association is the process of speaking freely without censoring or editing your thoughts, memories, or ideas. With this technique, you and your therapist will be able to find connections–both expected and unexpected–between your past and your mental condition. This exercise is commonly done to help a therapist identify patterns and triggers for your mental distress.

Interpretation

An integral part of psychoanalysis is the interpretation of the unconscious. For Freud, this usually involved dream interpretation. However, it has since developed to interpret your stream of consciousness and the thoughts in between. A good therapist can provide an interpretation of your unconscious using the connections that were established as basis.

Therapeutic Transference

Analysing and interpreting your social interactions is something that you can explore in psychoanalytic therapy. This is called therapeutic transference and it simply refers to the projection of your feelings for another person towards your psychotherapist. With this technique, you can gain significant insights on your social relationships and interactions with others.

Benefits

While the effects of psychoanalysis, as well as psychoanalytic therapy and treatment, will vary for each person, there is always an understanding that it gives you a sense of understanding and resolution between your past and present.

Emphasises healthy healing and emotional maturity

Psychoanalytic therapy recognises the impact the past has on the present. This is why psychotherapists aim to understand the relations between an individual’s unconscious and trauma. Part of the therapy involves facing the past, including developing a deeper understanding of oneself and healing from such experiences.

Highly Personal

While all forms of therapy focus on the individual, psychoanalysis is perhaps the most personal form of therapy available. It dwells on one’s past, hoping to find connections to the present. Breakthroughs are driven by the individual and progress based on their decisions.

When is Psychoanalytic Treatment used?

Psychoanalytic therapy is often used in the treatment of various psychological conditions. However, it can also be used to further explore and understand oneself. As a highly personal form of therapy, psychoanalysis bridges your past to your present and helps you find ways to navigate life more effectively.
Here’s how Seekapsych matches you with a qualified mental health professional:

Fill out the connect with a psychotherapist form

You will be providing us with the necessary information needed in order to match you with a suitable therapist in London.

Seekapsych Reviews your request

Our trained mental health professionals will review your request. We will then find a suitable professional for you and they will be in touch in order to book a therapy session with you.

Start your sessions with an experienced professional

You and your mental health professional will engage in therapy either remotely or at a suitable treatment location within the London vicinity.

How Can Counselling For Depression Help Your Mental Health?

One of the most common ways to manage depression is through counselling and therapy. Both are safe and confidential methods to help you process your feelings and situation. With the help of trained professionals, you will also be able to develop healthy habits and coping mechanisms for your triggers. When you undergo depression counselling with a London-based professional, you are given a safe and accessible space to talk about your feelings, emotions, processes, and challenges with depression. Your counsellor can help you express your emotions openly and safely, process past or present issues, develop healthier habits and relationships for your well-being.

Find A Trusted Psychotherapist with Seekapsych

It can be hard to know which kind of therapist is a good fit as many psychoanalysts in London are not regulated by the state. It is therefore hard to know by which criteria prospective psychotherapists in London should be assessed. Let us do the work for you by connecting you with a suitable therapist today.

Connect with a Psychotherapist

Frequently Asked Questions


Psychoanalytic therapy is generally considered effective. Since this type of treatment dwells on the past and other repressed memories, its success isn’t always guaranteed. The effectiveness of psychoanalytic therapy and treatments depend on how well an individual can face their traumas and triggering experiences.

Because of the frequency of psychoanalytic therapy sessions, the expected expense for such a treatment can be quite significant. Before you commit to psychoanalytic therapy sessions, make sure to factor in your budget. This is especially important for patients who have to have multiple sessions a week.

Psychoanalytic therapy can be intense. Since you’ll be facing your unconscious, repressed memories, and traumas, expect that the process will be difficult. It is important to consider your willingness and readiness to face such things, as well as your own understanding of yourself.

Because it is a highly personal and profound type of therapy, finding a suitable psychotherapist is mandatory. Someone who understands what you’re trying to do and respects your boundaries is an absolute must. Of course, experience and understanding in psychoanalysis is expected from your therapist.

Psychotherapy requires regular sessions with your therapist. Some may have a weekly check in with their therapist, while others can have as much as five sessions each week! The frequency of your sessions will ultimately depend on your condition and commitment.