Psychoanalysis An introduction 30 November 2011

Transcription

1 Psychoanalysis An introduction 30 November 2011 Freud Biography: Jewish Austrian. Founder of Modern Psychology. Medically trained in Vienna. Studied hypnosis in Paris in 1880s becoming intrigued with unconscious. Strong emphasis on sexual energy in of the psyche. Major features of Psychoanalytical approach: 1. Assume difficulties originate in childhood experiences 2. Assumes client is not consciously aware of motives/impulses behind actions 3. Uses various techniques, predominantly free association, dream analysis & interpretation of transference in therapeutic relationship. 1. Child's psychological development: Basic viewpoint of all psychoanalytical and psychodynamic practitioners: " To understand the client is it necessary to understand the development of personality through childhood with particular respect to how it has been shaped by family environment" (Mc Leod p 35) Stages of psycho-sexual development: ( 0-1yr) ORAL: erotic pleasure through mouth i.e. feeding (2-4 yrs) ANAL: Defacating muscle pleasure i.e pleasure from excretion (5-8 yrs) PHALLIC: genital pleasure ( oedipal conflict starts here i.e. unconscious desire to possess parent of opposite sex) (9yrs - puberty) LATENCY: developmental drives diminish, repression of sexual expression, period of learning unhindered by drives and emotional stimulants. Period of social & cognitive development. Psycho-sexual development depends on series of conflicts with parents. Parents response to child's needs & impulses greatly influences child's developing personality. Freud did not believe that dysfunctional sexual experiences truly happened but that they were an expression of sexual needs.

2 2. Unconscious 3 levels of psyche: ID (Child) unconscious, primitive instincts/ impulses. Ultimate motives for behaviour are based on the pleasure/pain principle, therefore irrational. Contains creative energy. EGO (Adult) conscious, rational - deals with reality. Remembers, plans, evaluates. Important that ego developes to manage life events and responsibilities ( ego strength & ego control) SUPEREGO (Parent) unconscious, psychological 'policeman' or conscience therefore storehouse of rules and taboos; mainly internalisation of parents' or other authorities' attitudes. Unconscious is anything outside conscious awareness Psychoanalytic approach explores the unconscious ( beneath the surface) "Where id was let ego be" i.e. to make the unconscious, conscious Ego, in conflict with the id and superego, produces a constant inner conflict, therefore, the mind develops 'defense mechanisms' (e.g. denial, repression, intellectualization etc) to cope with this inner turmoil to manufacture a sense of continuity, stabilization, balance. Aim of psychoanalysis is the healthy integration of all three parts of psyche. 3. Techniques Purpose - to bring self awareness of inner conflict, thoughts and behaviours. To become more conscious, therefore more rational. Aim - to release inner tension built up since childhood and release repressed or buried emotions. a) Free association: express whatever comes to mind, to reduce the influence of defense mechanisms and allow the unconscious processes more freedom. b) Dreamwork: Dream, fantasies & imagination are the "royal road to the unconscious". To explore material from the " deeper, less defended level of the personality" (McLeod p. 37) c) Analysing resistances and defences thereby identifying defense mechanisms. d) Attention to transference - the feelings felt by client towards the therapist is the reenactment of client's daily relationship with others ( this is why the psychoanalytical therapist present themselves as blank sheets, more detached than therapists from other fields).

3 Post-Freudian Approaches While Freud was alive he dominated the field of psychoanalysis. Critics were forced to break away to develop own theories. Jung: 3 levels of unconsciousness but differ from Freud. Less interpretational, more emphasis on the spiritual and transcendent. Believed the unconscious strives to be known rather than an entity which requires hunting down. (OHP) Reich: Organismic roots. Developed theory of body tension and illness resulting from inner conflict Adler: Contemporary of Freud. Also a medical/scientific background. Developed significance of social factors in emotional life. Believed people are creative actors rather than passive reactors, therefore responsible & self-determined. Analytic & behavioural, goal oriented approach ( similar to Egan). The aim is for behavioural change accompanied by perception and increase in social interest. Bowlby: In 1940's & 50's Bowlby's work was instrumental in changing the perceptions of parenting particularly with regard to the impact of 'maternal deprivation' with his attachment/detachment theory ( See "The Making and Breaking of Emotional Bonds") Winnicott: Further developed Klein's ideas emphasising the impact of how primary carers respond to young infants needs as regards feeding, holding etc. and the impact of those needs being denied/fulfilled. Believed the emotional state of the adult is built on the foundation of experience of earliest months and years. Melanie Klein: Student of Freud's. Pioneered psychoanalysis with children ( 1930's & 40's). Developed Object relations Therapy. Emphasised relationship with mother (prime carer). Believed humans are motivated by the need to establish and maintain relationships therefore fundamentally social beings.

4 Psychoanalytic Therapy Some terms and definitions: Free Association: Reporting of spontaneous words, thoughts, ideas, images etc in relation to 'trigger words' without reservation so as to tap unconscious. Transference: In therapeutic relationship where the client projects onto therapist feelings, attitudes and attributes deriving from previous or present significant others in client's life. Can be positive or negative although either can interfere with therapeutic process. Exploration of transference can allow old conflicts to resurface and be reworked in therapy. Counter-transference: Therapist's unconscious needs, wishes and conflicts evoked by the client. This influences therapists judgement, reasoning and neutrality. Personal therapy, supervision, self-analysis and reflection will help identify and manage countertransference. Defense mechanisms (also known as coping strategies) : Unconscious mental processes which protect the ego and maintain status quo by diverting anxiety/ conflicts away from consciousness. Examples: denial, repression (unconscious censorship), suppression (conscious censorship) projection ( attributing own traits, ideas etc onto others), regression ( returning to an earlier fixated level of functioning). Resistance: Client's unconscious efforts to thwart aims and process of therapy. The blocking of unconsciously repressed material from breaking through to consciousness. Empathic and supportive therapeutic relationship can help diffuse resistance in clients. Today only a small percentage of UK therapists describe themselves as psychoanalytical. Psychoanalytic therapy is usually long term (min 1 year sometimes up to 5 or 6 years) References: McLeod, John (1998) Introduction to Counselling, (2 nd Edition) Bicks: O.U.Press Chapter 3 Feltham,C. & Horton, I. (eds) (2000) Handbook of Counselling & Psychotherapy, London: Sage Publications. Pp Stewart, William (1997) A-Z of Counselling Theory & Practice, Hampshire: Stanley Thornes Ltd. Jacobs, Michael (1992), Sigmund Freud, London:Sage Publications

5 EXERCISE FREE ASSOCIATION Relax. There are no right or wrong answers. - reduces intellectualization Frees up unconscious, bringing more spontaneity. Therapist - sits behind / by side of client Client - eyes closed & relaxed. Notice words, feelings, sensations, fantasies, images, memories which are evoked by the trigger words: Freedom Death Desire Loss Belonging Abandoned Using just 1 or 2 of the above words to trigger free associative responses. The therapist is to offer no interventions. 5 minutes. After 5 minutes allow client to take 5 minutes to reflect on her experience and take notes for herself. Client - to what extent did you allow full expression? Were you guarded at any point, refraining from certain words or blocking out certain images? Make notes and process in your journal. Therapist - listen to own thoughts and feelings re what client is saying but give no feedback. Note how you felt during the 5 minute session. Compare it to your experience of previous skills exercises when you practiced person centred therapy. Make notes and process in your journal. Swap roles using different words this time to trigger response.