1
PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACHES; TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES
3.0 Introduction
3.1. Learning Outcomes
3.2 The development of Psychoanalysis
3.3 Three levels of the mind
3.4. Dreams and other reflections of the unconscious
3.5 View of Human Nature
3.6 The Developing Personality
3.7. Psychosexual Stages
3.8 Personality Structure
3.9 Defense Mechanisms
3.10 The Counseling Process
3.0 Introduction
Psychoanalytical approaches are treatment systems which emphasize the background of the client.
Background focused systems of treatment are majorly concerned about the significance of unresolved
problems and issues in the client’s past.
3.1 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lecture the learners should acquire ability to care for themselves and others.
3.2THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOANALYSIS
Freud ' s early work focused on the study of neurology. His research on the brain and spinal cord was
his notable contribution to the field. During the 1 880s, he became interested in the work of Josef Breuer,
a well-known physician in Vienna.
Breuer used hypnosis and verbal expression to treat emotional disorders. His famous case of Anna O., a
woman who experienced symptoms of paralysis of limbs and disturbances of sight, eating, and speech)
and dissociative symptoms in relation to the death of her father, captured Freud's attention.
He became increasingly interested in psychological disorders and their treatment (Freud, 1938). He
studied hypnosis with Chariot and investigated the use of electrotherapy, baths, and massage treatments
for people with emotional difficulties.
Although Freud sometimes used hypnosis, none of these other strategies seemed effective to him.
Experimentation led him to initiate what he called the concentration technique, in which patients lay
down with their eyes closed while Freud placed his hand on their foreheads and urged them to say
whatever thoughts arose.
He used questions to elicit material and promote self-exploration. This was an early version of modern
psychotherapy.
, 2
Although Freud later stopped touching his patients in this way because of its erotic possibilities, he
continued to emphasize the importance of patient self-expression and free association.
Freud’s writings during the 1 890s reflected growing awareness of the importance of sexuality in people's
lives.
He initially believed that symptoms of hysteria and neurosis were due to childhood sexual experiences,
perhaps traumatic sexual abuse such as seduction of the child by the father.
A combination of difficulty in substantiating this idea and the negative reactions it elicited led Freud to
change his ideas.
He subsequently focused more on infantile sexuality and fantasies rather than actual sexual experiences
as instrumental in determining emotional difficulties. In retrospect, Freud probably was wiser than
even he knew. More than 100 years later, clinicians are now well aware of the high incidence of
child sexual abuse. Probably at least some of his patients who described early sexual experiences to
Freud did indeed have those experiences.
The combination of Freud's interest in understanding the human psyche and an effort to address
difficulties he experienced in his own life led him to explore the meaning of his dreams and
fantasies, as well as his childhood sexual feelings toward his mother and anger toward his father.
Although Freud's ideas were largely ignored or rejected, however, again he expressed ideas that
ultimately gained widespread acceptance: the close connection between the mind and the body.
PSYCHOANALYTICAL THEORY
It was developed by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and mainly concentrated on the unconscious mind.
Basic Assumptions
a)The motivation for behaviour comes from the unconscious mind and not the body.
b)An individual's problems are rooted in early childhood experiences and these are invariably sexual in
character.
c)The therapist is an expert who listens to the patient and treats him/her as if in need of help.
d)Psychoanalysis involves a long and time-consuming commitment.
3.3 THREE LEVELS OF THE MIND ( LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS)
According to Freud, we have three levels of consciousness: the conscious, the preconscious, and the
unconscious:
Conscious
Pre-conscious/Subconscious
Unconscious
PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACHES; TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES
3.0 Introduction
3.1. Learning Outcomes
3.2 The development of Psychoanalysis
3.3 Three levels of the mind
3.4. Dreams and other reflections of the unconscious
3.5 View of Human Nature
3.6 The Developing Personality
3.7. Psychosexual Stages
3.8 Personality Structure
3.9 Defense Mechanisms
3.10 The Counseling Process
3.0 Introduction
Psychoanalytical approaches are treatment systems which emphasize the background of the client.
Background focused systems of treatment are majorly concerned about the significance of unresolved
problems and issues in the client’s past.
3.1 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lecture the learners should acquire ability to care for themselves and others.
3.2THE DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOANALYSIS
Freud ' s early work focused on the study of neurology. His research on the brain and spinal cord was
his notable contribution to the field. During the 1 880s, he became interested in the work of Josef Breuer,
a well-known physician in Vienna.
Breuer used hypnosis and verbal expression to treat emotional disorders. His famous case of Anna O., a
woman who experienced symptoms of paralysis of limbs and disturbances of sight, eating, and speech)
and dissociative symptoms in relation to the death of her father, captured Freud's attention.
He became increasingly interested in psychological disorders and their treatment (Freud, 1938). He
studied hypnosis with Chariot and investigated the use of electrotherapy, baths, and massage treatments
for people with emotional difficulties.
Although Freud sometimes used hypnosis, none of these other strategies seemed effective to him.
Experimentation led him to initiate what he called the concentration technique, in which patients lay
down with their eyes closed while Freud placed his hand on their foreheads and urged them to say
whatever thoughts arose.
He used questions to elicit material and promote self-exploration. This was an early version of modern
psychotherapy.
, 2
Although Freud later stopped touching his patients in this way because of its erotic possibilities, he
continued to emphasize the importance of patient self-expression and free association.
Freud’s writings during the 1 890s reflected growing awareness of the importance of sexuality in people's
lives.
He initially believed that symptoms of hysteria and neurosis were due to childhood sexual experiences,
perhaps traumatic sexual abuse such as seduction of the child by the father.
A combination of difficulty in substantiating this idea and the negative reactions it elicited led Freud to
change his ideas.
He subsequently focused more on infantile sexuality and fantasies rather than actual sexual experiences
as instrumental in determining emotional difficulties. In retrospect, Freud probably was wiser than
even he knew. More than 100 years later, clinicians are now well aware of the high incidence of
child sexual abuse. Probably at least some of his patients who described early sexual experiences to
Freud did indeed have those experiences.
The combination of Freud's interest in understanding the human psyche and an effort to address
difficulties he experienced in his own life led him to explore the meaning of his dreams and
fantasies, as well as his childhood sexual feelings toward his mother and anger toward his father.
Although Freud's ideas were largely ignored or rejected, however, again he expressed ideas that
ultimately gained widespread acceptance: the close connection between the mind and the body.
PSYCHOANALYTICAL THEORY
It was developed by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and mainly concentrated on the unconscious mind.
Basic Assumptions
a)The motivation for behaviour comes from the unconscious mind and not the body.
b)An individual's problems are rooted in early childhood experiences and these are invariably sexual in
character.
c)The therapist is an expert who listens to the patient and treats him/her as if in need of help.
d)Psychoanalysis involves a long and time-consuming commitment.
3.3 THREE LEVELS OF THE MIND ( LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS)
According to Freud, we have three levels of consciousness: the conscious, the preconscious, and the
unconscious:
Conscious
Pre-conscious/Subconscious
Unconscious
