Pretty much a 'simple' presentation showing the concept of Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory and a couple of techniques that come along with it. Used only for more 'advanced' learners in the field of Psychology. This was presented on my Masteral Class on the subject: Seminar on Group Counseling and Psychotherapy. Feel free to edit, add your info, and even tweak the presentations to your desire. Side-note: Pictures seen in the presentation are from artists from DeviantArt, Credit goes to all of them.

1. Psychoanalytic
Therapy
Russell Resti L. de Villa
MA Psychology

2. Part I
Introduction and Key
Concepts

3. Introduction
Among other theories on Human Behavior developed by well
known pillars in the field of Psychology, Sigmund Freud‘s
Psychoanalytic Theory, stands up even until today, as one of
the most controversial, as it included terms and concept on
sex, the unconscious and the interpretation of dreams.
The theory nonetheless, had provided a wide breeding
ground for developing other kinds of theories that aim to
understand human behavior. Such as Carl Jung‘s own mix of
Analytical Psychology, and Erik Erikson‘s Psychosocial
Stages of Development, a more ‗toned down‘ and a greater
supplement to Freud‘s Psychosexual Stages of Development

4. Introduction
In terms of contemporary psychotherapy, the practice
of Psychoanalysis had radically changed and
properly organized into a more ‗less sensitive‘
method to treat psychological disorders. By making
use of different techniques to conquer the
incongruence of the personality from the
unconscious. Psychoanalysis proves to be one of the
more useful techniques when it comes to handling
internal psychological conflicts that can alter the
person‘s perception of reality.

5. Sigmund Freud
The proprietor and the original initiator of the
Psychoanalytic approach on Human Behavior.
Eldest among 8 children, Freud was well
known for his utter devotion to devoting and
expanding the borders of his theory.
With the stresses, psychosomatic
occurrences, and paranoia about dying that
he experienced in his early 40‘s led him to
discover new ways to understanding how and
why people behave the way they do. He had
eventually overcome his stresses and then
began devoting the remaining years of his life
developing the Psychoanalytic approach to
discover the unconscious that affects a

6. Sigmund Freud
Freud was known to be very creative and
productive on his work. He was very dedicated
to his theory, and had very little tolerance to
persons who had thought otherwise or critiqued
his school of thought. Because of this, had had
dismissed two of his closest colleagues, Carl
Jung and Alfred Adler, who had disagreed on
Freud‘s views, and created their own theories
stemming from Freud‘s Work.
Sigmund Freud died in September 1939 due to
an inoperable cancer of the jaw.

7. Key Concepts
It’s General Psychology all over again.

8. The View of Human
Nature
In most cases on his work on Psychoanalysis, Freud
has drawn a clear line on two things concerning
Human Nature.

9. Human nature is ―Purely
Deterministic‖
Simply put, Human Nature ―Happens because it
happens‖, there is no point in time in where we ―call
the shots‖ (or having control over our behavior)
because according to Freud, our behavior is
determined by Irrational forces, unconscious
motivations and biological & instinctual drives that
are stemmed from repressed childhood memories or
experiences that hold a certain degree of impact to
our lives.

10. ―Instincts‖ are essential to the
Psychoanalytic Approach
Instincts are actively displayed in times of survival.
Leaning towards growth, development and creativity.
Freud originally termed this as ―Libido‖, comprising
of sexual energy, but then broadened the term to ―Life
Instincts‖, where all ‗pleasurable‘ acts serves as a
person‘s goal in life to simply gain pleasure and avoid
pain.

11. ―Instincts‖ cont.
Freud also came up with another type of instinct
called the ―Death Instinct‖, mostly responsible for the
aggressive drive where at times some persons
manifest through their behavior, an unconscious wish
to die, or to hurt themselves or to hurt others.
All in all, both Life and Death instincts are powerful
determinants to why people act the way they do.

12. The Structure of
Personality
Well known and commonly taught in the
annals of the theory of Psychoanalysis.
The theory illustrates the personality
consists of three specific and distinct
systems: the Id, the Ego, and the
Superego.
Bear in mind that the three systems
don‘t function as three separate entities,
but as one whole inter-dependent

13. The Id
The Id is considered as the primary and
original system of personality, the source of
psychic energy, and the seat of instincts. It
lacks organization, is blind, and very
insistent. It cannot tolerate tension, and
once it does feel tension, it functions to
immediately discharge it. Having ruled by
the Pleasure Principle, it always aims to
avoid pain and gain pleasure.

14. The Ego
Known as the
―Traffic Cop‖, it has
it‘s touch with
reality, controls
consciousness and
exercises
censorship.
It formulates rational
and logical
decisions and plans
for satisfying needs.
Another duty of the
Ego is to keep in
check, and balance
the demands of the
pleasure-seeking
and unorganized
Id, and of the
perfectionistcentered and
radical moral
objectives of the

15. The Superego
The Judicial Branch of the three. Comprised of
an individual‘s moral conduct and the concept of
right and what‘s wrong given from earlier life
experiences and the cultural mores given from
the environment. The Superego holds the
Moralistic Principle. It strives to inhibit the Id
and seeking to be ―Perfect‖ by persuading the
ego to replace it‘s realistic goals for the more
―perfectionist‖ ones.

16. Consciousness & The
Unconscious
The unconscious can be compared to an Iceberg. The
conscious can be on the tip of it, but underneath sea level is
a massive body of the unconscious, where, according to
Freud, is where psychological functioning exists. Experience,
memories, repressed material, as well as needs or
motivations that are out of awareness and control.
Considered as one of the primary concepts to understand
Human behavior. It cannot be normally studied under
ordinary means, but it can mostly be inferred from a person‘s
behavior. From Freud‘s work and clinical evidences, there are
six concepts that are believed to be part of the unconscious

17. 6 Things:
1. Dreams – Symbolic representations of Unconscious
needs, wishes, and conflicts.
2. Slips of the tongue and forgetting
3. Post hypnotic suggestions
4. Material derived from free-association
5. Material derived from projective techniques
6. Symbolic content of psychotic symptoms

18. What does the Unconscious
relate to Psychoanalytic
Therapy?
Internal psychological conflicts are not easily tackled as
it is repressed deep within the bowels of the
unconscious. Because of this, one of the main goals of
the Psychoanalytic Therapy is to make the unconscious
motives conscious, as this will be the only time where the
individual can understand the role of the unconscious, as
well as exercise choice.
The unconscious is at the root of all forms of neurotic
symptoms and behavior. The ―cure‖ is based on how one
uncovers the meaning of symptoms, causes of behavior
and repressed materials that interfere with healthy
functioning

19. Anxiety
Also known as the feeling of ―Dread‖ that
results from repressed feelings, memories,
desires, and experience that emerge to the
surface of awareness. Anxiety usually develops
out of a conflict among the Id, Ego, and
Superego over control of the available psychic
energy.

20. There are 3 kinds of Anxiety
1. Reality Anxiety. Simply put- it is the fear of danger from
the external world
2. Neurotic Anxiety. The fear that the impulses may cause
someone to do something where the person will be
punished.
3. Moral Anxiety. The fear of one‘s own conscience. If a
person does something contrary to their moral code, they
usually feel bad and guilt-ridden of what they have done

21. Ego Defense Mechanisms
For the individual to cope with anxiety and prevent
the ego from being overwhelmed, self-defense
mechanisms are used. These mechanisms that are
employed depends on how well the individual is
develop, and the level of anxiety. Defenses have 2
things in common: (1) They either deny or distort
reality and (2) They operate on the
preconscious/unconscious level.

22. Defense Mechanisms
1. Repression – A process of removing something from
awareness and consciousness. Burying it deep within
unconsciousness.
2. Denial – ―Closing one‘s eyes‖ to the existence of a
threatening stimuli. It is where the individual ―distorts‖
what the individual thinks, feels, or perceives in a
traumatic situation.
3. Reaction Formation – Actively expressing the
opposite impulse when confronted with a threatening
impulse.
4. Projection - Attributing to others one‘s own

23. Defense Mechanisms
5. Displacement - Directing energy toward another object
or person when the original object or person is
inaccessible.
6. Rationalization - Manufacturing ―good‖ reasons to
explain away a bruised ego.
7. Sublimation - Diverting sexual or aggressive energy
into other channels.
8. Regression - Going back to an earlier phase of
development when there were fewer demands.

24. Defense Mechanisms
9. Introjection - Taking in and ―swallowing‖ the values
and standards of others.
10. Identification - Identifying with successful causes,
organizations, or people in the hope that you will be
perceived as worthwhile.
11. Compensation - Masking perceived weaknesses or
developing certain positive traits to make up for
limitations.

25. The Development of Personality: The
Importance of Early Development
A significant contribution of the psychoanalytic
model is delineation of the stages of
psychosexual and psychosocial stages of
development from birth through adulthood.
This stage perspective provides the counselor
with the conceptual tools for understanding key
developmental tasks characteristic of the
various stages of life.

26. The Psychosexual Stages of
Development
Freud had come up with three stages of development
which deals with three areas of personal and social
development—love and trust, dealing with negative
feelings, and developing a positive acceptance of
sexuality, and believed that all three are grounded
within the first six years of life.
When a child‘s needs are not adequately met during
these stages of development, an individual may
become fixated at that stage and behave in
psychologically immature ways later on in life.

27. The Psychosexual Stages of
Development
The Oral Stage which deals with the inability to trust
oneself and others, resulting in the fear of loving and forming
close relationships and low self-esteem
The Anal Stage which deals with the inability to recognize
and express anger
The Phallic Stage which deals with the inability to fully
accept one‘s sexuality and sexual feelings, and also to
difficulty in accepting oneself as a man or woman.

28. The Psychosocial Stages of
Development
Erik Erikson‘s theory of development holds that
psychosexual growth and psychosocial growth take place
together, each stage of life we face the task of establishing
equilibrium between ourselves and our social world. He
describes development in terms of the entire life span,
divided by specific crises to be resolved. According to
Erikson, a crisis is equivalent to a turning point in life when
we have the potential to move forward or to regress. At these
turning points, we can either resolve our conflicts or fail to
master the developmental task.

29. Counseling Implications
When applied in psychotherapy, Freud‘s Psychosexual
Stages of development alone may cause difficulty to the
client to actually recall repressed memories, more so on the
person‘s childhood, Erikson‘s Psychosocial Stages can prove
useful on later stages, but may require a more deeper
approach to explain fixation and behaviors expressed by the
unconscious, but by combining both theories can help
counselors tackle both issues.
While the theory gives implications on the client‘s childhood
and adolescent stages that can affect later development,
counselors can also help the client realize that later
development have their own crises as well. Two birds with
one stone.

30. Part II
The Therapeutic
Process

31. Overview
Psychoanalytic therapy typically uses methods to bring
unconscious material out in the open. It‘s main focus is
leaned toward the development of the individual in the
earlier years, where experiences are discussed,
reconstructed, interpreted, and analyzed. With the help of
transference relationship with the therapist, both client
and therapist explores the past of the client, which will
then, lead to character change. The primary tools of the
trade of the Psychoanalytic Therapy is the analytic
framework, free association, interpretation, dream
analysis, analysis of resistance, and analysis of
transference.

32. Therapeutic Goals
There are two basic goals when applying
Psychoanalytic Therapy. These are:
1) To make unconscious motives conscious, and;
2) To strengthen the Ego to be more aligned with
reality and lessen dependence on the instinctual
cravings of the Id or the irrational guilt provided by
the Superego.

33. The Therapist‘s Function and
Role
 Therapists usually assume an anonymous kind of role, also
known as the ―Blank-Screen Approach‖, where they limit
self-disclosure that will then promote a ‗transference
relationship‘ with the client, where the client will pour
projections, where, according to Luborsky, et.al (2008)
―refers to the transfer of feelings originally experienced in
an early relationship to other important people in a person‘s
present environment‖.
 In terms of functions, one of the central functions of the
therapist is to assist the client acquire the freedom to love,
work, and play, achieving self-awareness, honesty, dealing
with anxiety realistically. In order to do this, the therapist
must first create a working relationship and do the task of

34. The Therapist‘s Function and
Role
Particular attention is given to the client‘s resistances. The
analyst listens, learns, and decides when to make appropriate
interpretations of the gathered unconscious material from the
client through listening, and inferred reports from Free
Association and other techniques.
With the gathered unconscious material, it is then, the
therapist‘s role to properly organize the material to properly
formulate the nature of the client‘s problem, and then have it
interpreted to them, so as to give proper insight, increase
their awareness to change, and thus leading them to having
better control‘s over their lives.

35. Summary
The process of psychoanalytic therapy is somewhat
like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Whether
clients change depends considerably more on their
readiness to change than on the accuracy of the
therapist‘s interpretations. If the therapist pushes the
client too rapidly or offers ill-timed interpretations,
therapy will not be effective. Change occurs through
the process of reworking old patterns so that clients
might become freer to act in new ways. (Luborsky et
al., 2008).

36. The Client‘s Experience
In the classical approach to Psychoanalysis, Clients must
commit themselves to long and intensive psychotherapy.
Face-to-Face sessions with the therapist will be the starting
point in initiating a relationship with the client, and from
there, clients will be then be instructed to lie down on a
couch and actively engage Free Association, that is, to say
your inward thoughts without censorship.
Clients must also be in a commitment with the therapist and
that they must stick with the procedures of the therapy.
Clients are not recommended to make any ‗radical‘ changes
in lifestyle while undergoing therapy.

37. Summary
A successful analysis answers a client‘s ―why‖
questions regarding his or her life. Clients who
emerge successfully from analytic therapy report that
they have achieved such things as an understanding
of their symptoms and the functions they serve, an
insight into how their environment affects them and
how they affect the environment, and reduced
defensiveness (Saretsky, 1978).

38. The Relationship between the
Client and Therapist
There can be two kinds of therapists that can be seen in a
typical psychoanalytic therapy session: The Classic Analyst,
and the Current Relational Analyst
The Classic Analyst mostly stands outside the relationship,
sometimes gives comments, and provides interpretation to
the client. The Current Relational Analyst is not ‗detached‘
from clients, rather, they are more focused on the here-andnow interaction with the client, and they find it more useful in
creating rapport and gathering background information from
the client.

39. The Relationship between the
Client and Therapist
Therapists and clients mostly hold a transference
relationship. Transference, again, is the resurfacing of old
experiences that were reactions from significant people from
repressed memory and having them shifted to the therapist.
Clients and therapists go through a working-through
process, where they both tackle unconscious material and
defenses.
Therapists must be well aware of Countertransference where
in the therapist‘s own unconscious conflict comes out and
projects them into the client. Not call countertransference
feelings are bad, but other cases may seem beneficial to both
client and therapist.

40. Summary
The client–therapist relationship is of vital importance
in psychoanalytic therapy. As a result of this
relationship, particularly in working through the
transference situation, clients acquire insights into
the workings of their unconscious process.
Awareness of and insights into repressed material are
the bases of the analytic growth process. Clients
come to understand the association between their
past experiences and their current behavior. The
psychoanalytic approach assumes that without this
dynamic self-understanding there can be no

41. The Therapeutic Process
Application: Therapeutic
Techniques and
Procedures

42. Overview
The techniques of psychoanalytic therapy are
aimed at increasing awareness, providing
insight to the client‘s behavior, and
understanding the meanings of symptoms. The
therapy proceeds from the client‘s talk to
catharsis (or expression of emotion) to insight
to working through unconscious material. This
work is done to attain the goals of intellectual
and emotional understanding and reeducation,
which then leads to personality change.

43. Psychoanalysis Psychodynamics
As opposed from the classic Psychoanalysis, psychoanalytically
oriented therapists mostly adapt with the Psychodynamic therapy which
includes these features:
• The therapy is geared more to limited objectives than to restructuring
one‘s personality.
• The therapist is less likely to use the couch.
• There are fewer sessions each week.
• There is more frequent use of supportive interventions—such as
reassurance, expressions of empathy and support, and suggestions—
and more self-disclosure by the therapist.
• The focus is more on pressing practical concerns than on working
with fantasy material.

44. Maintaining the Analytic
Framework
Like a systematic process on how students follow
their class schedules, Analysts must keep in mind in
maintaining the framework as it will provide proper
guidance and a planned course for achieving the
goals of the therapy. The framework includes a wide
variety of procedures and styles on clients, ranging
from the amount of disclosure and anonymity of the
therapist to the consistency of meetings, etc.

45. Free Association
A central technique used in psychoanalysis. This is
where the client, without censorship, will be
encouraged to say whatever is on their mind. The
therapist will sit by and listen well on what the client
says, listening for significant resistances which may
mean that there are anxiety-arousing material or
surfaced unconscious material which will lead to
discovering the ‗root‘ problem.

46. Interpretation
A technique where therapists use to explain, point
out, and even teach the meaning of gathered
unconscious material, free association themes,
manifests of dreams, and even the relationship of the
client and therapists. Interpretation is the main line of
communication for the clients to understand their
unconscious and help their ego assimilate the
material to help them further progress into
uncovering more unconscious material.

47. Dream Analysis
Freud describes dreams as ―The Royal Road To
Unconsciousness‖. While asleep, the person‘s
defenses are lowered, and repressed feelings and
emotions arise in dreams. Material in dreams may
show a person‘s unconscious needs, wishes and
fears. Clients are asked to ‗describe‘ the Manifest
Content of their dreams, and then through Free
Association, the therapist then helps and finds the
client‘s associations with the manifest content to
uncover the latent content.

48. Analysis and Interpretation of
Resistance
This technique identifies the client‘s restriction,
refusal, and reluctance to bring surface of awareness
any unconscious material that is repressed.
Resistance of any kind coming from Free Association
gets into the way of the progress, and through
interpretation, the therapist should make it clear to the
client that he/she is to unbar any restrictions, as
he/she has to confront the problem in reality than
keeping it repressed.

49. Analysis and Interpretation of
Transference
Being one of the major cornerstones in
Psychoanalytic therapy, it is important that the
therapist analyze and properly interpret the
transference relationship they hold. This holds one of
the crucial solutions for the client to understand what
exactly made them fixated and deep-rooted on such
anxiety. Transference, again, is where the client will reexperience the emotions felt back at the repressed
experience, and will put the therapist as the person
who would be there experiencing and reacting to the
client‘s re-enactment.

50. The Therapeutic Process
Last Leg: The Modern
Psychoanalytic Therapy, Limits
and Critiques on the Therapy

51. The Modern Psychoanalytic
Therapy people with
With the world changing in an ever-rapid pace,
psychological problems also trend in areas such as separation and
individuation, intimacy, dependence versus independence, and identity
have cause many present-day therapists to make alterations to the
psychoanalytic approach and are more on the development of the ego,
are paying attention to the social and cultural factors that influence the
differentiation of an individual from others, and are giving new meaning
to the relational dimensions of therapy.
Marmor (1997), a therapist, demonstrates an openness toward
integrating various methods: ―I try to avoid putting every patient on a
Procrustean bed of a singular therapeutic method but rather adapt my
approach to the patient‘s own unique needs‖

52. The Modern Psychoanalytic
Therapy
Although contemporary psychodynamic forms
diverge considerably in many respects from the
original Freudian emphasis on drives, the basic
Freudian concepts of unconscious motivation, the
influence of early development, transference,
countertransference, and resistance are still central to
the newer modifications. These concepts are of major
importance in therapy and can be incorporated into
therapeutic practices based on various theoretical
approaches.

53. The Limitations and Critique of
the Psychoanalytic Therapy
In general, considering factors such as time, expense, and
availability of trained psychoanalytic therapists, the practical
applications of many psychoanalytic techniques are limited
Commitments to such therapy takes a long time to
accomplish an analytic goal.
The anonymous role of the Therapist while applying therapy.
Clashes and issues with feminist psychology
Psychoanalysis and it‘s therapy is now recently criticized
over it‘s irrelevance to contemporary culture.

54. Thanks for
listening!