[precious things]

hello everyone, taking the plunge and posting here. I am currently (after many, many, attempts at various therapies) in psychoanalytic therapy. I lay on the couch with my shrink out of sight and speak about anything that comes to mind for 45 min a few times a week. I was very afraid to try the couch but I now find it strangely comforting (I can curl up in a little ball sometimes) and more natural than sitting in a chair. I am only a couple of months in and can't say one way or another how I feel it will help but alas, I have not had much relief from other therapies in the past.

anyways, wondering if anyone else had undergone this type of therapy? hope it's okay to post here

[SallyBrown]

Originally Posted by precious things

hello everyone, taking the plunge and posting here. I am currently (after many, many, attempts at various therapies) in psychoanalytic therapy. I lay on the couch with my shrink out of sight and speak about anything that comes to mind for 45 min a few times a week. I was very afraid to try the couch but I now find it strangely comforting (I can curl up in a little ball sometimes) and more natural than sitting in a chair. I am only a couple of months in and can't say one way or another how I feel it will help but alas, I have not had much relief from other therapies in the past.

anyways, wondering if anyone else had undergone this type of therapy? hope it's okay to post here

I have! I'm in it now... except lying on the couch facing away from my therapist really didn't go very well. I tried the couch for a little under a year, and it was helpful initially, but I had a lot of trouble with it later. (This was exacerbated by the fact that my T really failed to understand at the time exactly what the problems were and what would make them better. If he had, perhaps I could have stayed there.)

So now we're face to face, and that works well for me. I see him 4 times a week for 75 minutes each. I don't know if I'll be able to keep that up for much longer, but right now it works.

If it's helping you so far, that's great! It can be really excruciating at times, but I also think that what you learn about yourself can be extremely rewarding.

[mcl6136]

I tried it and it was not helpful. I do much better with someone who is a human for me...who discloses that they are real. I just cannot handle the intense "filling in" that happens for me when across from (or prone in front of) a blank slate.

I commend you for what I see as xtreme courage!!!

[Indie'sOK]

Dude, that is tough But I too commend you for going through it. I couldn't handle the "blank slate" thing. I'm the type who (consciously or not) seeks out affection from my therapist. This may not be a good thing in the long run, but right now it's helping. A blank demeanor would come across as cold and uncaring to me, even if it's part of the process.

[CantExplain]

Historical note: Freud prefered the couch. It was Jung who pioneered the face-to-face method.

[Ygrec23]

As far as I know, there really aren't very many particularly strict rules anymore. In other words, there are many, many "psychodynamic psychotherapists" who are perfectly happy to sit in chairs with you, without even a "couch" in the room.

Nor are there all that many "psychodynamic psychotherapists" who continue to be strict Freudians (i.e., those who sit there and don't respond). I myself am now in "psychodynamic psychotherapy" with an experienced therapist who wouldn't dream of following the truly ancient Freudian rules. Which is exactly what I want.

In other words, the world's a big place and you can probably find whatever you need or want in it. Myself, I'm not really comfortable with anything other than "psychodynamic psychotherapy." But up to date, without the real silliness of the Freudian old guard. And believe me, I'm quite familiar with the "old guard."

But the real effectiveness of your T doesn't depend on all these categorizations. It depends on their personalities and their serious commitment to helping people. I would have to guess that it really doesn't depend on whether they're PP or CBT or DBT or whatever. So long as they have a serious personal commitment to really helping people in pain.

The best of luck to you. I hope your T works out to your satisfaction. Just know that somewhere in the world there are probably more than one T's perfectly suited to you and to your getting what you want and need. Take care!

[precious things]

Originally Posted by Indie'sOK

Dude, that is tough But I too commend you for going through it. I couldn't handle the "blank slate" thing. I'm the type who (consciously or not) seeks out affection from my therapist. This may not be a good thing in the long run, but right now it's helping. A blank demeanor would come across as cold and uncaring to me, even if it's part of the process.

Oh goodness, I couldn't handle a completely blank slate myself. Actually, there is a "flow" and we do converese back and forth. We do talk but he always lets me steer the topic. I would spin myself into a dizzying cirlce if he didn't interact with me. There are days where I have changed things up in there and sat in a chair across the room but I have found that I miss the couch.

[precious things]

Originally Posted by SallyBrown

I have! I'm in it now... except lying on the couch facing away from my therapist really didn't go very well. I tried the couch for a little under a year, and it was helpful initially, but I had a lot of trouble with it later. (This was exacerbated by the fact that my T really failed to understand at the time exactly what the problems were and what would make them better. If he had, perhaps I could have stayed there.)

So now we're face to face, and that works well for me. I see him 4 times a week for 75 minutes each. I don't know if I'll be able to keep that up for much longer, but right now it works.

If it's helping you so far, that's great! It can be really excruciating at times, but I also think that what you learn about yourself can be extremely rewarding.

Wow-75 min. 4x a week is very intense! We do strictly 45min, and I am just now bumping up to 3x a week.

[BlueHen]

I underwent 5 years of analysis. Once in it is difficult to leave and before you know it you have spent more than $100,000. And it is very painful. Ask your analyst about how difficult and hurtful transference will be. I consider analysis to be an addiction -- takes big bucks, feels good sometimes but most of the time you suffer from withdrawal, and you will need a therapist to recover when you finish. Sorry, can't recommend it. Save your moneyand take the nice vacations your analyst will with your money. Hop

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

Historical note: Freud prefered the couch. It was Jung who pioneered the face-to-face method.

I saw the movie "A Dangerous Method" tonight - quite a lot of "pioneering" going on...

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by hankster

I saw the movie "A Dangerous Method" tonight - quite a lot of "pioneering" going on...

I'm not sure I dare to watch that. It might shatter my illusions.

[stopdog]

Originally Posted by hankster

I saw the movie "A Dangerous Method" tonight - quite a lot of "pioneering" going on...

In the naked hottub sense?

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by stopdog

In the naked hot tub sense?

Huh, if only! I told T, "See it with someone you spank" He goes, "No one has mentioned THAT to me before!" Cronenberg kinda missed the boat on this one, marketing-wise, I think. It's 3/4 Merchant-Ivory, 1/4 soft-porn.

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by hankster

...It's 3/4 Merchant-Ivory...

WTF does that mean?

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by hankster

Huh, if only! I told T, "See it with someone you spank"

Is there a spanking scene?

Does Freud spank Jung or is it the other way around?

I'm in psychodynamic therapy. There's a couch but I'm able to reach deep feelings sitting up. This to me is the perfect therapy.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

Is there a spanking scene?

SEVERAL

Originally Posted by CantExplain

Does Freud spank Jung or is it the other way around?

YOU ARE TUTU FUNYY!!!! Definitely some verbal spankings between the two!

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

WTF does that mean?

oh, all those dreamy english movies with emma thompson and sir anthony hopkins (not in headgear) and helena bonham carter - that's the last names of the guys who made them.