Psychoanalysis Wakes You Up

Psychoanalysis is exciting. The deep listening, the frequent sessions, the chance to listen to yourself and your feelings, especially your anxiety, as well as your unconscious, through dreams, through free association, and multiple associations (meaning whatever comes to your mind), is democratic. Psychoanalysis was revolutionary when it first came on the scene, because it was and is, when done right, the antithesis of authoritarian. It does not discriminate against negative feelings, for example. It INVITES them. Were you somebody who was always told you were TOO sensitive? You won't be told that by your analyst. On the contrary, your analyst will be curious, supportive, reflective rather than judgmental. Do you deal with insomnia a lot? Your analyst won't give you a list of do's and don'ts, although they might suggest some CBT ideas, but they WILL ask about the texture of your feelings or nightly ruminations (repetitive worries). . They might suggest that a past trauma might be lingering unresolved , and suggest doing EMDR with you on a certain feeling or memory. Speaking of, have you ever been talked out of your feelings or memories at times, and told you were 'overthinking something, that you should just 'get over it', 'it's nothing', 'don't make a mountain out of a molehill?' Well, if you were told that, and you did not find that helpful, you will love psychoanalysis. A good psychoanalyst will tell you that mountains and molehills are sometimes equally valid. Psychoanalysis welcomes each and every idea, from the smallest to the largest, from the quietest to the loudest. Sometimes for the first time in their lives, psychoanalysis introduces people to the fact that they are very complex, and that complexity is a GOOD thing, a sign of maturity, a sign of intelligence. Sometimes for the first time people learn that they are filled with meaningful feelings, images, memories, and dreams, that tell a very personal story, and that their individual story is important, and critical to helping them become more grounded, and confident, and entitled to claim their place in the world. Speaking of our world, where IN our world are all of your thoughts, feelings, fears, anxieties, and crazy theories welcome, appreciated, and eventually understood? Psychoanalytic Therapy, that's where!! So despite all the jokes that are sometimes made about psychoanalysis, or myths about psychoanalysis, it is still alive and well, in many therapy offices along the way.

I wanted to put in a shout out to a form of psychoanalysis (at least to me) that is innovative and able to cultivate the best aspects of psychodynamic therapy. . AEDP draws on the best of psychoanalysis, particularly the theories of ^Winnicott, Ferenczi, and Bowlby. Diana Fosha is the founder of AEDP, and from her groundbreaking book THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF AFFECT written in 2000, therapists from all over the world have gathered together, in person and virtually, to embrace her ideas. They  applaud her for transforming some of the best principles of short term dynamic psychotherapy, especially the work of Havid Davanloo, into a coherent structure that priviliges positive as well as negative transference, melting and affirming rather than directly challenging defenses as well as anxiety against feelings that protect us but at a cost, and forming a close attachment with the patient as opposed to taking a more neutral anonymous stance. This does not mean that protective boundaries and basic therapy principles are not in place, they are. But it does mean that the work of John Bowlby in his insistence that the therapist be a secure base for the patient, is emphasized over the idea that relational enactments (where misunderstandings through action and attitude) are inevitable and the most important aspect of the work. To Bowlby, Winnicott and others, the secure attachment of the therapy relationship is the most healing factor. This idea, that positive transference is acceptable, and  should be explored in as much detail as the negative transference, is absolutely groundbreaking and a real game changer. It makes the playing field more level, fair, and affirming.

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