The Unconscious 4: The Role of Free Association
One of Freud’s primary techniques for accessing the unconscious was free association, where patients were encouraged to speak freely about whatever came to mind, without censorship. The aim was to bypass the conscious mind’s defences and uncover unconscious material. This technique is still widely used in modern psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Free association helps therapists and clients […]
The Unconscious 3: Dreams
Freud famously referred to dreams as the “royal road to the unconscious.” He believed that dreams provide valuable insight into the unconscious mind, with the content of dreams reflecting repressed desires and unresolved conflicts. Dream interpretation can be used as a tool to gain insight into unconscious thoughts, although some people find it hard to […]
The Unconscious 2: Unconscious Patterns in Relationships
Freud believed that early childhood experiences shape our unconscious mind and influence our relationships in adulthood. He argued that unresolved conflicts with caregivers or significant figures often surface in adult relationships through repetition compulsion, where individuals unconsciously recreate patterns from their past. Contemporary therapy places significant focus on identifying these unconscious patterns. For example, attachment […]
The Unconscious 1: Repression and Defence Mechanisms
While some of Freud’s ideas have been adapted or revised over time, his concept of the unconscious is still highly relevant to modern therapeutic practices. Many contemporary forms of therapy continue to explore how unconscious processes influence behaviour. Here are several ways Freud’s understanding of the unconscious mind remains central to modern psychoanalysis and therapy. […]
What is the ‘mind’? Undersatnding Freud’s legacy
Sigmund Freud, the founding father of psychoanalysis, revolutionized the way we think about the mind. At the heart of his theory lies the concept of the unconscious mind, an aspect of our psyche that stores thoughts, memories, desires, and feelings of which we are largely unaware. Freud’s insights into the unconscious have left a lasting […]
The link between feelings, beliefs and behaviours
Your symptoms are a reflection of your individual life experience and so are unique to you. But here are some illustrations of the feelings, beliefs and behaviours commonly associated with certain issues… Depression and Anxiety You might feel: sad, hopeless, afraid, overwhelmed You might believe: "I am not good enough," "I will never be happy," […]
© Frances Field
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