In Studying The Effectiveness Of Psychoanalysis Philadelphia Studies Have Been Of Great Significance

By Lenore Bolton


The fields of psychology and psychiatry have shown tremendous growth during the past decade or two, yet sadly, there are still widespread misconceptions about mental disorders, emotional problems and the treatments that are recommended for these problems. Medical experts all agree that diseases and disorders of this type are as real as physical injury and disease. When seeking psychoanalysis Philadelphia has distinguished itself as the home of several renowned experts.

While this form of therapy is usually credited to the work of Freud, the field has expanded considerably and not boasts several schools of thought. The basic theory is that all, or at least mot psychological disturbances can be traced to the unconscious. This means that the patient is not even aware of the fact that his or her problems and the symptoms caused by them are hidden, even from themselves.

The theory states that psychological problems can almost always be traced back to childhood issues that have remained unresolved or to trauma that has such negative power that it is repressed. The idea is therefore to apply techniques that will force these issues into the light of the conscious mind where they can be faced. Only when the patient is able to identify the repressed issues that cause the psychological problem can a solution be found.

Patients must agree to several sessions each week and the entire process make require years of treatment. In many cases progress is made rather quickly and patients report that some of the symptoms that they experienced have disappeared. A cure is not declared, however, until the patient has managed to consciously deal with each of the repressed issues that caused the problem in the first place.

Therapists use various techniques to help patients dig out hidden memories. Rorschach ink blots and free association techniques are employed to help analysis to understand the way in which the patient associates with real life. Dream analysis is also performed and in some cases hypnosis has been found to be very helpful. In many cases the patient is simply encouraged to relax and to relate stories and memories as they occur to him.

Experts that favor this approach to therapy have reported successes in the treatment of disorders where it is necessary to help patients face their memories and anxieties and where they can be helped to understand that past events do not necessarily have a permanent effect upon the future. Patients suffering from phobias, depression and severe stress have all been said to benefit.

Many critics of this method of therapy see it is unscientific. They are of the opinion that years of therapy that does not result in any measurable final result is nothing but quackery. They also argue that the focus on sexual matters and childhood experience is excessive and that the unconscious mind is not as powerful as proponents of this therapy believes.

For positive results with psychoanalysis Philadelphia psychological experts have gained quite a reputation. Patients that have undergone other forms of treatment reacted positively for the first time when exposed to this approach. The very complexity of the human mind demands an approach that is careful and slow.




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