Introduction to the Psychoanalytic Techniques

As you know, psychoanalysis is interested in exploration of the unconscious mind in order to cure. In this respect, it applies specific techniques or methods that we intend to present in this section. These methods were first developed by Sigmund Freud.

Below is the list of these basic methods. Some of them are further explained if you click the links that lead to corresponding articles published on this site.

- Anamnesis - resembles perfectly to a certain extent the classical anamnesis known in the practice of general medicine. The interpretation of the biographic (personal) events during the psychoanalytical cure may settle the neurotic frame of the individual's psychopathology. Learn more...

- Free Associations Method - This method replaced hypnosis in Freud's therapy. It consists in gathering the free associations provided by the patient during the cure. These associations points to the inner conflicts and repressed drives included in neurotic symptoms. Learn more...

- Interpretation of the Freudian Slips and Mistakes - This is a remarkable contribution of Freud to the exploration of the unconscious. For most of us the so-called "faulty acts" - as for instance lapses and slips of all kinds - have no contextual significance for our psychic life. Freud is the first scientist to detect the significance of slips and mistakes, starting from the premise, acknowledged in practice, of the determinism of all our psychic processes. Learn more...

- Analysis/Interpretation of Dreams - By far the most important psychoanalytic technique, also called the royal road to the unconscious by Freud himself, dream interpretation is considered by him an irreplaceable means to access the unconscious. The first dream ever interpreted in Freud's style is the Irma's injection published in his Dream Interpretation (1900). Learn more...

- Analysis/Interpretation of Symbols - Symbols occur in dreams, fantasies, fairy tales and other such psychical and cultural products, and they may be interpreted in the same way as dreams. Freud claims that most of such symbols are sexual. Learn more...

- Much more should be said about transference and the analysis of transference. Still they are very difficult topics for beginners therefore we didn't offer but several quotes from Freud works.

Email Courses - Initiation into the psychoanalytic methods approached here are further offered through our email courses - click here to learn more.