What is psychoanalysis? What methods are used? How does it work? For whom is it the recommended treatment of choice? How are psychoanalysts trained? And, most importantly, will it work for me?

Psychoanalysis is a theory, a research method, and most importantly for the purposes of this blog, a form of intensive psychotherapy. The goal of psychoanalysis is character development and character change. In order to accomplish this goal the psychoanalyst helps individuals to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings and motivations.

Psychoanalysts use many methods to help analysands (people in analysis) to become more self-aware. These include, "free association", dreams, "flash thoughts", day dreams, fantasies, creating a confidential and safe atmosphere, the couch and regular and frequent appointments, four or four times a week. Treatment spans a significant period of time. Each will be addressed in turn.

Analysands are asked to "free associate", or to say what comes to mind without censoring. Unlike everyday talking where, as a matter of tact, one edits one's thoughts, in psychoanalysis, the patient is asked to report their thoughts without regard to the listener.

Similarly, patients are asked to report dreams, day dreams, "flash thoughts" and fantasies. Also, both patient and psychoanalyst attend to "slips of the tongue" and the patient's demeanor. Notably, Freud characterized dreams as, "the royal road to the unconscious". The idea in psychoanalysis is that we are motivated or driven by conflictual aspects of ourselves that are outside of our awareness, the goal of analysis is to make the unconscious conscious. An aim of psychoanalysis is to gain a window into the patient's unconscious. Saying what comes to mind, reporting dreams, describing fantasies and avoiding censorship allows both analyst and patient to become increasingly aware of the patient's unconscious fantasies and beliefs.

A confidential atmosphere allows patients or analysands to begin to speak openly. Except for in a few limited circumstances, your psychoanalyst is legally bound not to divulge your confidences. That is, your communication with your psychoanalyst is completely private.

To promote a focus inward, patients are asked to recline on a couch, with the analyst sitting behind them. Often, this allows both patient and analyst to reflect on the patient's associations. Initially lying on seems unfamiliar, however, most individuals find that it allows them to focus on their inner world.

Typically people come to psychoanalysis to deal with difficulties that have troubled them for many years. Some have had previous therapy and have found that it did not allow them to fully resolve their difficulties. Others have had no previous treatment, but, recognize that this more intensive approach is warranted in order to resolve their difficulties. For example, they may struggle with long-standing difficulties, expressing their feelings, asserting themselves, making commitments, having intimate relationships, relating to bosses and coworkers, feeling anxious or inhibited, feeling depressed, selecting friends or lovers who are consistently unreliable or disappointing, completing or excelling in school or college, identifying and pursuing their work-life goals, or not getting what they want out of life.

Often these troubles are the result of beliefs that are outside of their conscious awareness. Thus, the goal is to promote self-awareness. To heighten awareness of one's inner feelings and motivations, analysands come several times a week. Although patients are often surprised by the recommendation of frequent appointments most find that this intensifies the process and leads to greater openness.