Reflection Of The Psychoanalytic Perspective

In the counseling world today understanding psychodynamic approaches is more crucial than ever in the assessment and treatment of any psychological issue. Psychodynamic approaches such as Individual therapy, analytical therapy and psychoanalysis are similar in many ways but also differ based on the individuals own perception and circumstances. I will discuss the similarities as well difference’s and why these forms of therapy are critical in the assessment and treatment of clients.

Psychoanalytic, I work with many clients and help them express their mental health, the root of their capacity relates with the conscious and unconscious psychological processes. I strongly believe in Freud’s Psychoanalytic perspective in exploring the unconscious mind to understand.

Psychodynamic theory, although it is outdated, is the foundation for what we know as counseling today. It was first created by Freud and later expanded by Erikson and Jung. The focus of this therapy is mainly bringing the feelings and desires of the unconscious into consciousness and the unconsciousness’ role in behavior. It also postulates that there are different stages of personality development across the life span. Freud’s focus was on psychosexual development while Erikson used psychosocial stages as well. It concentrates mostly on childhood experiences, arguing that examination of the past leads to character development. This examination of the past and the unconscious can be accomplished through a number of techniques including

Psychoanalytic theory can be applied to client treatment by the suggestion that mental illness was treatable and that talking about problems could bring relief to that person. Psychoanalytic theory can be used to help clients in a way that it could help a victim to develop emotional and behavioral strategies to deal with the trauma they may have encountered.

Among these therapeutic approaches are the psychodynamic approach and the existential approach. An example of existential approach psychotherapy is the person-centred therapy that was introduced by Carl Rogers in the 1940s. Person-centred therapy (PCT) focuses on the quality of the person-to-person therapeutic relationship; it places faith and gives responsibility to the client in dealing with problems and concerns (Corey, 2009, p. 30). On the other hand, for the psychodynamic approach, Sigmund Freud, the core founder of this approach developed psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a therapy aimed to treat mental disorder. It is a set of techniques for treating the unconscious causes of mental disorders; as well as to explain the underlying factors of how human personality and abnormality develop from childhood (Corey, 2009, p. 30). This paper examines the similarities and differences between psychoanalytic therapy and

The Psychoanalytic theory will best fit this scenario (of course with the permission of the client) because of the two therapeutic goals:

The psychosocial approach helps us to develop a healthy questioning of the obvious. An open mind, imagination and knowledge of personality functioning, human behaviour and emotional suffering are inherent in the ideas; they assist in reaching;differential diagnoses and treatment plans. This is another way of saying that clients interact with their environments in unique ways and if we are to give service which is accurately targeted then, when appropriate, we have to comprehend underlying feelings and motives which can block people from making optimum use of such help. Freudian psychoanalytic ideas, particularly personality theory, began to feed into what became known as psychodynamic casework.

Idealistically, I intend to let the client define his or her own therapeutic goals. As a counselor, my role will be to facilitate the client in reaching their goals. I am inclined to the use of experiments of Gestalt theory such as having a dialogue with inconsistent parts of oneself, reexperiencing past incomplete situations in the present, and the empty chair exercise (Corey, 2009b; Corey & Haynes, 2005). I also am found of the technique of pointing out inconsistencies between what the clients words and actions, for example, wringing his or her hands while claiming to feel relaxed. Therefore, I think it is important to be very familiar in behavioral and cognitive behavioral practices.

A important measure of psychodynamic therapy is the constant union that psychiatrist but forth to a patient to build a relationship where there’s trust. That is the only way to truly understand and gather all information needed to understand the emotions of the patient. Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung influenced psychodynamic, they were unconscious and psychic approach. Jung’s studies were mainly on spiritual influences and collective unconscious. The psychodynamic approach is based on the analysis of dreams, transference, and the insightful resistance (Plante, 2011). The goal is to understand human motives, drives, and other unconscious energies. The goals are to find a patient’s awareness of oneself and understand the influence of the past stimuli on the present behavior. A psychodynamic approach helps a patient to examine conflicts and symptoms that are unresolved and have developed from dysfunctional relationships of the past (Haggerty, M.D.,

I can competently implement, identify, and describe the four major categories of direct practice in my own practice. I can also competently articulate the correct application, focus, and desired result of direct practice theories presented in this chapter in my own practice. The first of the four major categories is psychodynamic theories, which attempts to connect the current problems a client is having to past traumas from an early time in life. The focus of psychodynamic theories is to translate insights into personality changes within the client. The second category is cognitive-behavioral theories, which connects the cognitive processes and their influence on behaviors and focuses on the present with hopes to improve the future. These theories focus on the current conditions of the client and identify distortions, beliefs, and misconceptions that contribute to the behaviors and symptoms of the client. The third theories are the humanistic theories which are theories concerned with the present time and consists of a therapist being authentic, genuine, and having positive regard for the client while conducting person-centered counseling. The fourth of the four major categories is postmodern theories, which are theories that belief that reality is subjective in nature and open to multiple interpretations influenced by personal experiences and values along with the social and political norms. Within the postmodern theories is narrative therapy and solution-focused therapy.

Psychoanalysis is a therapy and also a theory which was produced by Sigmund Freud. This therapy stress that human behavior and emotion are unconsciously cause by their past experience and drive in the unconscious part and the client doesn’t know them. The therapist always uses this therapy to help the client understand more emotion and

Human beings are unique and individual in one way or another with different personality theories. Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Alder psychoanalytic theories about the human mind were very similar and different at the same time. To this day, attempts to prove the theories of these men are still taking place. All three of these men agreed that human behavior, as an adult, was a direct result of the individual's childhood experiences that would paint a lasting impression on the world around them. Freud, Jung, and Adler believed parenting and childhood development was the significant impact for shaping the personality. Dreaming and daydreaming played a major role in shaping character as well.

The psychoanalytic perspective, is the outlook that behavior and personality are effected by the conflict between one’s inner dreams n and expectation of society. Most of this conflict occurs in unconscious, which is outside the knowledge of an individual. Renowned psychologist, Freud established the psychoanalytic theory as an explanation for perplexed phenomena such as the meaning behind dreams, slips of the tongue, and behavioral reflex reactions to stressful situations. The unconscious is a primary focus in psychoanalytic theory due to its typical development in childhood and the ways in which it influences nearly every detail of an individual’s life. The unconscious mind also holds unvented memories and unexpressed urges that make their process into the conscious mind through a variety of different means. However, topographical theory of the mind states that conscious, preconscious, and unconscious serve as motivating forces in human behavior. Corsin & Wedding (2011) define the conscious as mental activity which individuals are fully aware of, preconscious as thoughts and feelings that could be easily brought to mind and unconscious as thoughts, feelings, and desires of which one is unaware of.

Psychoanalysis was the name given by Sigmund Freud to a system of interpretation and therapeutic treatment of psychological disorders. (McLeod, 2007) In particular, we present five key concepts on psychoanalytic therapy: structure of personality, psychosexual stages, defense mechanism, anxiety, and the unconscious mind.

In the field of Psychology, there are many theories and techniques that can be utilized. Some counselors might choose to use one or more of these theories and techniques, but some will choose to use only one. After learning about the different theories and techniques, I have chosen the Psychoanalytic Theory as my personal theoretical orientation. The reason I chose Psychoanalysis is because I feel that it best suits me. What seems to be most intriguing to me about Psychoanalysis is that its main focus is on your conscious and unconscious mind. I enjoy using techniques in order to find out what information lies within your conscious and unconscious and for this reason, I feel Psychoanalysis best fits my personality.