Psychoanalysis is a treatment designed to alleviate psychological distress by helping people more fully understand themselves and their underlying motivations. Psychoanalytic treatment is based on Sigmund Freud’s idea that, as human beings, we are only partly aware of what motivates our feelings, thoughts and actions. While we are consciously aware of some of our motivations, others remain beyond our immediate awareness. These unconscious elements can wreak havoc in our lives and result in painful symptoms, like depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. They can also contribute to difficulties with school, work and career, trouble maintaining friendships and romantic relationships, and disquieting personality traits such as passive-aggressiveness and quick-temperedness. Psychoanalysis strives to identify and understand the factors that produce these difficulties in order to relieve suffering and enhance quality of life. This is achieved by first establishing a safe environment and working partnership between patient and analyst so that past and current feelings, thoughts, beliefs, conflicts and relationships, as well as dreams, memories, childhood experiences and hopes for the future can be explored. The purpose of this thorough investigation is to amplify self-awareness, which in turn allows for the transformation of long-standing thought and behavior patterns that cause and perpetuate unhappiness. Over time, with improved insight and attentiveness to underlying motivations, individuals are better equipped to overcome difficulties and make meaningful, lasting changes in keeping with their goals.

Psychotherapy