Psychoanalytic-Oriented Consultation
Psychoanalytic-oriented consultation is conducted through initial interviews and is aimed at people experiencing a psychological distress or discomfort. It is a very important phase as these interviews represent an opportunity for patients to better understand themselves starting from the psychological problem that leads the individual to ask for help.
Consultation is useful for the individual to understand the crisis that he/she is going through and gives both, the patient and the analyst valuable guidance on the best therapy. The analyst will help the individual to better understand a current discomfort that may be rooted in the past.
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After initial consultation, the analyst may judge a psychoanalytic psychotherapy as the best therapy for the patient. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is a variation of psychoanalysis: even though they have some basic similarities, psychoanalytic psychotherapy is different in method, procedure, setting (face-to-face may be used instead of the couch), the length of treatment (it can be short or long) and the number of sessions (usually lower than psychoanalysis). However, the aim of psychoanalytic psychotherapy is the same: supporting the development of patients and improving the quality of their lives. Principles originating from classic psychoanalysis remain unchanged too: the importance of patient-analyst relationship, the transfer analysis, the exploration of internal world and the analysis of unconscious conflicts that - in some cases - seriously restrict individual freedom and emotional and professional relationships of the patient. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy may be a valuable tool for the patient, supporting profound and continuing changes over time. |
Psychoanalysis Following initial consultation - and if valid reasons arise - the patiens can start a psychoanalytic treatment aimed at solving personal problems or better understanding themself in order to experience a sense of increased well-being. Psychoanalysis is a therapy that employs the free association method - searching for unconscious mental processes - first conceived by Sigmund Freud and further developed by other leading psychoanalysts. All sessions are held on a regular basis in order to favour a patient-analyst relationship where both parties can share a rich exploratory experience. The prone position with the psychoanalyst behind the patient, out of his/her sight, promotes free association of ideas and the transfer development helping the patient to identify how any traumatic experiences and unconscious factors originating from the past impact on patient’s relationships and current behaviors. The psychoanalyst supports the patient during the entire process, helping him to identify major unconscious conflicts in his/her internal world that may foster some stereotyped models of relationship causing pain and unhappiness. |