What is psychoanalytic therapy?
Psychoanalytic therapy can bring about lasting change. It can help us understand ourselves and get to the heart of what we might be struggling with in our lives.
Thinking about Therapy?
The most important thing to bear in mind when looking for a therapist is that you should ensure that your therapist is on a PSA accredited register. This means that your therapist is a member or Registrant with a UK based regulator. It’s important to ensure that this is the case because it means your therapist’s training has been verified and they have a Code of Ethics or Standards they must abide by in their practice.
Registrants on the BPC’s Register have undergone intensive training, have had their own personal therapy before and whilst training, and agree to follow high professional and ethical standards thus protecting you, the public, and the profession. The BPC is a regulator with a strong psychoanalytic focus, we regulate psychoanalytically trained analysts and therapists.
Psychoanalytic therapy deepens awareness and self-understanding. This can enable personal growth and deeper fulfilment.
What is psychotherapy?
Psychoanalytic therapy is a form of talking therapy which involves conversations with a listener (the psychoanalytic practitioner) who is trained to listen to what might be occurring within your mind on a deeper level. Thoughts and feelings can be aired so that you develop a deeper understanding of yourself. Having a better understanding of what lies deeper in your unconscious mind can help reduce suffering, enable emotional growth and lead to a more fulfilling life.
Navigating the therapeutic profession can be daunting and full of information overload, so we’ve compiled a few answers to some Frequently Asked Questions here and in other parts of the ‘Thinking about Therapy?‘ hub on our website. Keep reading below to learn more:
FAQs
Psychoanalytic therapies involve talking to a trained psychoanalytic practitioner, usually one-to-one. Psychoanalytic therapy can also be in a group with a group therapist or in a couple with a couples’ therapist.
Psychoanalytic therapy involves talking about your thoughts and feelings, your relationships with others, including the relationship with your therapist, and ultimately the relationship you have with yourself. In your sessions you may be encouraged to talk freely and honestly without censoring what you say. Talking in this way enables a deeper exploration of what might lie in your unconscious mind.
Psychoanalytic therapy usually involves talking to a qualified therapist. However, therapists begin practicing while in training. If your therapist is in training they would normally inform you of this but if you are unsure, you can ask them directly. Therapy by someone in training is sometimes offered at a reduced fee.
Psychoanalytic therapy is an effective form of therapy that is practiced widely throughout the world.
Psychoanalytic therapy differs from many other talking therapies in that it aims to help people make deep seated changes personally and emotionally, alongside relieving the symptoms that inhibit them. It can help you discuss feelings you have about yourself and other people.
Psychoanalytic therapy can bring about lasting change. It can help us understand ourselves and get to the heart of what we might be struggling with in our lives.
Psychoanalytic therapy is also a very effective way of helping children, through the use of play. It can also help adolescents work through identity and emotional difficulties or concerns.
Psychoanalytic therapy is usually one-to-one sessions which last 50 minutes and may range from once weekly to five times weekly. In a session, you might sit in a chair or lie down on a couch with your analyst sitting behind or beside you.
Therapy may last several months or years, depending on the scope and depth of the work you do with your therapist.
We talk more about what to expect from a session on this web page, click here to read more.
Choosing the right therapist for you depends on a variety of factors. It is often helpful to have one or more preliminary consultations before deciding how best to proceed. Always ensure that your therapist is on a PSA accredited register during your search.
What’s the difference between psychoanalytic therapy and other types of therapy?
The key characteristics of psychoanalytic therapy are that it’s long-term, frequent and in-depth. It aims to tap into your unconscious through talking and listening, to help you understand yourself, your life and your actions in a deep, reflective way. Psychoanalytic therapy is principally led by you.
There are different types of psychoanalytic therapy, it would be overly simplistic to say that the difference between psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy is based on frequency of sessions. But frequency is a way of indicating the depth of work in relation to unconscious dynamics, transference and countertransference
Whether psychoanalytic therapy is the treatment of choice for you depends on a variety of factors. It is often helpful to have one or more preliminary consultations with an experienced psychotherapist before deciding how best to proceed.
Psychoanalytic therapy is principally led by you.
Here is a brief break-down of the most significant differences within psychoanalytic therapy:
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: Psychodynamic psychotherapists are trained to work once or twice weekly, generally with the patient sitting in a chair. The work is about making conscious the unconscious and uses the patient-therapist relationship as the focus. There may be more of an emphasis on everyday life and outside experiences.
- Psychodynamic Counselling: Psychodynamic counsellors are trained to work once weekly, generally with the client sitting on a chair. There may be more of an emphasis on everyday life and outside experiences, but links to the unconscious are made.
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy: Psychoanalytic psychotherapists are trained to work generally up to 3 times a week, usually with the patient on the couch. The work is about making conscious the unconscious and often uses the patient-therapist relationship to work through issues of everyday life.
- Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysts are trained to work with their patient four or five times a week, usually with the patient on a couch. The work is about making conscious the unconscious and uses the patient-therapist relationship as a way to work through issues of everyday life.
- Jungian Analytic Psychotherapy: Jungian analytic psychotherapists are trained to work with their patient three times a week, usually with the patient on a couch. The work is about making conscious the unconscious and uses the patient-therapist relationship as a way to work through issues of everyday life. The theory base emphasises the work of Carl Jung.
- Jungian Analysis: Jungian analysts are trained to work with their patient at least three times a week, usually with the patient on a couch. The work is about making conscious the unconscious and uses the patient-therapist relationship as a way to work through issues of everyday life. The theory base emphasises the work of Carl Jung.
Types of therapy outside the psychoanalytic model can involve different schools of thought as well as different methods. These therapies may be shorter or less frequent, and they may use different methods such as art, meditation or play.
For more information on other types of therapy, visit Mind’s website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-therapy-and-counselling/types-of-talking-therapy/
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