[skyliner]

I love to analyze things; is this an indication that psychoanalysis would be helpful to me?
I don't take well to CBT or DBT, so thinking whether analysis ought to be my next try.
Has anyone engaged in analytic treatment? how was it?

[ECHOES]

My therapy is psychodynamic psychotherapy and my therapist is an analyst.
I have been in CBT (and REBT) and found some useful things in them but it wasn't what I was looking for. I really like analysis. I like that each session you 'start where you are' and that anything and everything is valuable in your therapy.
My therapist is a MSW LMHC. I used to think "only" a psychologist would do. I found her by contacting a psychoanalytic institute in the nearest large city to me and asking for a referral to a candidate in my community. A candidate is a student who is already a therapist and is earning their psychoanalysis certificate. My therapist has been in practice for 30 years.
My therapy is modern analysis and is face to face rather me on the couch with her out of eyesight, although she is willing to do that if I that's what I want.

Here is a site that has a lot of information about types of therapies and types of therapists, and a good Question & Answer section: www.guidetopsychotherapy.com

[objtrbit]

I'm being mentored right now in psychoanalysis-I love it. Would love to talk with you about it too-it really is an amazing therapy.

My favorite contribution to analysis other than free association is something called "object relations".

Basically, how I explain that, is we had conflicts in our childhoods, and we recreate the conflicts unconciously over and over again-to either resolve it, or fall into it.

For example...
My mom would say she was gonna come over, but never did, and I would just sit in the driveway waiting for hours. Now, as an adult, it affects me really bad when people say they are gonna come over, or be somewhere, and they don't. Happened to me today-a friend was suppossed to be at psych club, but didn't show. It happened just last week too, so this time I decided to send an e-mail expressing what her not showing up did to me-
such bad timing. She was in a car wreck. If I don't talk about this stuff, it's just gonna resurfacing in different ways.

Wohoo, welcome to analysis, lol

[AeAnneAe]

I am in an analytic group - meets twice a week - it is not full on psychoanalysis of course but I find this approach really works for me. I've had person-centred, gestalt, and transactional analysis and have read a lot of DBT and CBT. They have all helped but the analytic group works well for me now. I like how it uses my mind as well as my emotions etc.

Like objtrit says, object relations is very important, and for me understanding transference is too. I like the focus on here and now, what is going on in the group, between members and the therapist... and how we trigger one another and how we help etc. And how the past influences us in the present.

There is a lot going on in any one session and it can feel a bit difficult at times but that's how it is and sooner or later things get addressed. I don't think it is great for sorting immediate issues but it is good in the longer term.

I often feel it is my only hope. Medication keeps me going day to day but the group gives me hope that I can live differently and have good relationships in the future.

There are a lot of approaches so do a bit of reading and get your head around some of the concepts.

[imapatient]

"Psychoanalysis" has a very specific meaning if used in the old school Freudian sense, but "analysis" is about the most generic, widely-used term for therapy that you'll run into. Psychodynamic is widely defined as "analysis" but most often it isn't (or shouldn't be) the old school "psychoanalysis."

It doesn't sound to me like the prior responders were all talking about old-school psychoanalysis. Group? No, old-school psychoanalysis is one on-on-one (think Freud's couch) where the analyst is to be a "blank slate" that the patient (unintentionally) projects onto, with the relation of (as mentioned by another poster) transference becoming the central focus.

On advice, I tried it and after 5 or so sessions of the old school style, I hated it. It was like paying someone to take what I said and change the words around and make a question out of. I felt like I was drowning while my analyst sat there with a life-saver that she refused to throw to me (meaning offering help). Silent. I thought it was juvenile and stupid. Maybe when I was much younger--when I thought I wanted that old-school approach--I would've liked it, but it was of no benefit in trying to help with very serious, immediate issues, which is what I needed. It's a long-term proposition. I was in a different place right then. Maybe you are. I'd say it probably has its place for some people at some times, but I can't see it being very helpful as being the main therapy mode for anyone I've known with mental health needs beyond the short-term.

Just because you like to analyze doesn't mean it's good for you as a therapy method. Sometimes there can be too much analysis--"paralysis by analysis." But a solid psychodynamic approach is engaged in much analysis without all the (bad, to me) bells and whistles of the old-school approach. It's more human and can help with immediate issues. Worked for me. There's a lot of focus on transference (which implies object relations work) etc.

[sunrise]

Traditional psychoanalysis involves meeting with the analyst 3-5 times a week, doesn't it? I wonder if any insurance would pay for that these days? (Not that my insurance evens pays for once every two weeks, but just curious...) I am highly analytical, too analytical in fact. So for me, psychoanalysis would probably be the opposite of what I need. I tend to get in my head too much and I need to learn to be more in my feelings and heart. It's too easy for me to step into analytic mode. I need therapy that draws me out of that. So I'm not sure that liking to analyze things is a good indicator of psychoanalysis being a good fit...

[ECHOES]

Thought you might find this worth checking out:

http://www.apsa.org/About_Psychoanalysis.aspx

[skyliner]

Originally Posted by sunrise

Traditional psychoanalysis involves meeting with the analyst 3-5 times a week, doesn't it? I wonder if any insurance would pay for that these days? (Not that my insurance evens pays for once every two weeks, but just curious...) I am highly analytical, too analytical in fact. So for me, psychoanalysis would probably be the opposite of what I need. I tend to get in my head too much and I need to learn to be more in my feelings and heart. It's too easy for me to step into analytic mode. I need therapy that draws me out of that. So I'm not sure that liking to analyze things is a good indicator of psychoanalysis being a good fit...

My understanding of analysis is that its goal is to bring to conscious awareness the unconscious processes. So I wonder whether being an analytical thinker or not has any bearing on the psychoanalytic process.
Anyone in psychoanalytic treatment care to weigh in on this?

[objtrbit]

Originally Posted by skyliner

My understanding of analysis is that its goal is to bring to conscious awareness the unconscious processes. So I wonder whether being an analytical thinker or not has any bearing on the psychoanalytic process.
Anyone in psychoanalytic treatment care to weigh in on this?

I'm not sure if I understand the question completly, but here's what Sunrise said:

"I am highly analytical, too analytical in fact. So for me, psychoanalysis would probably be the opposite of what I need."

My interpetation of that is... that maybe there is a worry that it's possible to analyze one's self too much, that someone could drive themselves nuts with it all. I donno;

I do know that when one starts seeing and recognizing their recreations, it can be really freakin' frustrating when one starts to feel like no matter what they do, the same situations keep reappearing everywhere in their lives in really "random" and obscure ways-"Number 23" style sort of thing.

I donno. I think that would only become a huge issue is if one ever stopped talking about what all is going on inside, all those weird things one never thinks is worth talking about-can get to ya, lol.

So, in this case, I would want to ask Sunrise
what does "too" analytical look like for you?
What do you imagine happening?
All that fun stuff. I donno, lol

Take care,
-obj

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by objtrbit

So, in this case, I would want to ask Sunrise
what does "too" analytical look like for you? What do you imagine happening?

I am too analytic now because I analyze things all the time. I don't have to imagine anything happening because that's how it is every day. It's not a disaster, but in therapy I work to access more feelings, emotions, etc. I don't want to spend more time in therapy analyzing stuff because I already do that. I want to find my feelings, learn to express them, etc. I need help with this, and my T is good at helping. Over-analysis is probably somewhat of a defense mechanism for me. I try to be really open in therapy and keep my defenses down so we can make progress. Sometimes in therapy I do find myself going into analytic mode--arrghhh! I try to correct it when I fall into it, if I recognize it and if I'm not too threatened. Anyway, that's how it is for me! I understand that different people need different things in therapy and analysis may be just the ticket for some.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by skyliner

I love to analyze things

Unfortunately people aren't things. Presumably one pays the exorbitant amount therapy costs in order to function within one's life more to one's liking? As enjoyable as analyzing things is/can be, I don't know that I'd use that interest as a guide as to what therapy might be the best idea for me. Like the various defenses and symptoms our selves have chosen, I'd think there was "too much" in one direction, and like sunrise, would probably want to work toward another direction. Analysis in and of itself would be like spinning the wheels of my car, not what I'd want if I wanted to get somewhere?

[objtrbit]

Originally Posted by sunrise

Sometimes in therapy I do find myself going into analytic mode--arrghhh! I try to correct it when I fall into it, if I recognize it and if I'm not too threatened. Anyway, that's how it is for me! I understand that different people need different things in therapy and analysis may be just the ticket for some.

That's a really good point; if one is constantly trying to figure out "why" there isnt much space to feel. I agree, I think they actually call that defense mech "intellectualization" but I'm not sure. True analysis is suppossed to break that down though. They say you leave feeling worse than when you came in, because you end up talking about the worst of the worst that happened to you-the goal is to relive it, go back there to when you felt that stuff as a kid, and then you won't spend as much energy since you're not holding in all those bad experiences.

My mentor keeps telling me "insight alone is not enough,"
you have to do the emotional work to be able to find relief/catharsis, ect.,
so an analyst would actually try to break down why you are analyzing everything, why you want to stop...then just stare at you as you talk about it, saying all the things on an unconcious level that you felt as a kid. Always fun.

Let me know if I offended you at all sunrise, cuz one time I posted a "hate rant" lol, on CBT, and people wanted to correct me more than understand where I was coming from, so if you're still reading this thread, let me know, lol. It's definatly a learning experience learning how to support, find support, and be supported, aye?

Take care,
-obj

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by objtrbit

Let me know if I offended you at all sunrise, cuz one time I posted a "hate rant" lol, on CBT, and people wanted to correct me

Hi objtrbit, no I'm not offended. I have never done CBT. It does not appeal to me (again, probably because of my overly rational and analytic nature--I need feeling work in therapy), so I doubt anything you might have said about CBT would have offended me. It holds no place in my heart, although I understand that it is extemely helpful for some people. I wonder why you would think I would be offended by a rant you wrote about CBT? Have I said something to make you think I am a CBT champion? My therapy is eclectic, largely humanistic. But there is some family systems and a measure of what some would consider psychodynamic. Sometimes people talk about therapy as if there is just psychodynamic and CBT so I wonder if you thought since I didn't do analytic work, I must do CBT? The psychodynamic/CBT dichotomy seems to leave no place for other types of therapy. I know I am not the only one here who has a humanistic T, so it's not that uncommon....

Originally Posted by objtrbit

I think they actually call that defense mech "intellectualization" but I'm not sure. True analysis is supposed to break that down though.

If I catch myself doing it in therapy, I try to make myself stop, rather than having someone break it down (sounds so harsh!). I know the route to healing for me lies with feeling; doing too much intellectualizing in therapy would not bring me closer to healing. I would rather say nothing in therapy than intellectualize, so sometimes if I catch myself falling back into analytic mode, I try to slow it down and stop speaking. That is more genuine for me. My T is very comfortable with silence and will wait for me. A lot of cool things can happen during silence. It is a time for me to listen deep within myself.

Originally Posted by objtrbit

you won't spend as much energy since you're not holding in all those bad experiences.

This rings true for me also! I have reclaimed a lot of energy in my life by learning to not hold in all my feelings (for me it was not just bad feelings, but good feelings too). I owe this to therapy. I am still a neophyte at this, but I have found that all that energy that I put into holding my feelings back and stuffing them deep inside can be freed up by stopping keeping such a tight hold on everything. Because I don't always keep such a tight rein on myself now, I have all this extra energy to do positive things in my life. I think this release and reclaiming of energy in my life may be the most important and tangible benefit of therapy for me so far. In certain moments, it feels to me the way you feel after you take your ski boots off after a day on the slopes--you just feel so light on your feet.

Originally Posted by objtrbit

My mentor keeps telling me "insight alone is not enough,"
you have to do the emotional work

I agree with your mentor. For me too the emotional work is the most important. Coupled with insight, it can be even more powerful. For me a challenge is to bring a new way of being I experience in therapy out into the light of day. Objtrbit, it sounds like your mentor is really a good fit for you. And it sounds like you're really making some great strides. Hope that continues for you.

[objtrbit]

Originally Posted by sunrise

I wonder why you would think I would be offended by a rant you wrote about CBT? Have I said something to make you think I am a CBT champion?

Eventhough I know must T's are ecelectic, it seems sometimes like the only thing out there is CBT, so it gets really easy for me to assume that everyone champians the "be positive"....anyway! lol, I'm also very self-conscious of my posts, and I must of felt like I was picking apart what you said too much instead of trying to understand where you were coming from.

If I catch myself doing it in therapy, I try to make myself stop, rather than having someone break it down (sounds so harsh!).

"Break down the resistance", lol. It's what my T taught me about talking about uncomfortable or tramatic things; sometimes I'll get to a place and I'll be like "I don't want to go there!" and to "break it down" for me, she'll ask, "how come" or "why do you supposse you don't"...that kind of stuff.
Makes me smile, I hate it, but it helps me examine myself.

This rings true for me also! I have reclaimed a lot of energy in my life by learning to not hold in all my feelings (for me it was not just bad feelings, but good feelings too). I owe this to therapy. I am still a neophyte at this, but I have found that all that energy that I put into holding my feelings back and stuffing them deep inside can be freed up by stopping keeping such a tight hold on everything.

Wooow, humanists do that too? I would love to study that type of therapy also. That one does seem to be a lot more underground then even psychoanalysis. So cool T uses the humanistic style as well. Does your T teach you what method he/she is using and why? I donno, somethings, like object relations theory, would not have been as solid for me just reading out of a book.

I agree with your mentor. For me too the emotional work is the most important. Coupled with insight, it can be even more powerful. For me a challenge is to bring a new way of being I experience in therapy out into the light of day. Objtrbit, it sounds like your mentor is really a good fit for you. And it sounds like you're really making some great strides. Hope that continues for you.

Thanks, sounds like your T is awesome too, I'd love to learn about that!

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by sunrise

I have reclaimed a lot of energy in my life by learning to not hold in all my feelings.... I owe this to therapy.

No, I did this, not my therapist. My therapist provides an environment of safety and trust and openness in which I am able to grow and change, when I am ready. He never said to me that if I learn to access and experience my feelings, that I would have so much more energy. I said all that after it occurred. I simply reported to him what I experienced. He liked it. (Perhaps he's seen it in many clients, or perhaps just a few). And he said he was honored to have been a part of that and share in that with me. Of course, I don't think I would have come to that without him, but yet he doesn't have a goal that this is what I should experience and do. Everyone is different. He doesn't know what I need--I am the expert on that (or so he insists).

Originally Posted by objtrbit

Does your T teach you what method he/she is using and why? I donno, somethings, like object relations theory, would not have been as solid for me just reading out of a book.

Not often. That would veer into the realm of my being analytical and wanting to discuss techniques on an intellectual level, which would keep me from doing the real work of my therapy. I have only limited time with my T, so I don't want to discuss method with him, I want to reserve our time for him to help me uncover past hurts, feel them, and put them to rest, etc. We do occasionally talk about method, such as when we first did EMDR. It's kind of an odd technique, so I think getting an explanation was helpful to me. My T is my therapist, whereas the person you describe as a mentor sounds perhaps more like an educator (this person is not your T?)? My T can teach me a lot, but it helps that teaching is not the focus of therapy, but just happens as we move along. My therapy is more experiential than didactic.

[objtrbit]

[quote=sunrise;1485308]No, I did this, not my therapist. My therapist provides an environment of safety and trust and openness in which I am able to grow and change, when I am ready. He never said to me that if I learn to access and experience my feelings, that I would have so much more energy. I said all that after it occurred. I simply reported to him what I experienced. He liked it.

It seems like you are getting the most out of your therapy with your own endeavors, for lack of better phrasing, but I think that's awesome. I'm glad you found a T like that.


Not often. That would veer into the realm of my being analytical and wanting to discuss techniques on an intellectual level, which would keep me from doing the real work of my therapy. I have only limited time with my T, so I don't want to discuss method with him, I want to reserve our time for him to help me uncover past hurts, feel them, and put them to rest, etc.

That sounds really psychodynamic/analytic. Whatever that is, it's so cool to hear that you're not getting "be positive" shoved down your throat; (I don't even really think that's what true cbt does, many of my collegues studing it act that way though.)

We do occasionally talk about method, such as when we first did EMDR. It's kind of an odd technique, so I think getting an explanation was helpful to me. My T is my therapist, whereas the person you describe as a mentor sounds perhaps more like an educator (this person is not your T?)?

I have a regular T who is ecelectic but focuses CBT, and a teacher who is teaching me through therapy sessions. So it's kinda the best of both worlds; I forgot where this forum is/was going lol. Guess I'm tired today.

Take care

[ECHOES]

http://www.tbpsychoanalytic.org/abou...oanalysis.html

Another link about psychoanalysis. It isn't about analyzing everything to death, it is about making the unsconcious conscious so we understand ourselves better.