Psychoanalyst - to whom, for what and how?

What is psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis is a unique technique of self-knowledge, the founder of which is Sigmund Freud. Revolutionary theory consists of a radically different view of the inner life of man.

Psychoanalysis is a profound practice that helps change human destiny. Giving you the opportunity to understand your true Desires.

And by understanding our desires and our own unique history, we are given the opportunity to “consciously” live life and are given a choice where there was none before.

How does a session with a psychoanalyst go?

A person who has decided to undergo a course of psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic therapy (the difference lies in the level of training of the specialist and the number of meetings per week), initially comes to several orientation meetings, at which he talks about his path in life and what is currently bothering and interfering with him live. At these meetings, the psychoanalyst conducts a special diagnostic interview in order to find out the peculiarities of the functioning of the psyche and personal structure of a given person (this allows the psychoanalyst to build an appropriate work strategy), find out the person’s motives for undergoing a course of psychoanalysis, and also understand how suitable this method is for this person to solve his difficulties .

Then, an oral agreement is concluded on the time and frequency of meetings, payment procedures and other organizational issues (in psychoanalysis, these rules are called “settings”), which are the fundamental basis for successfully completing a course of psychoanalysis. The psychoanalyst always waits for the patient in the office at the appointed time and extremely rarely these meetings are cancelled, which makes it possible to create a permanent dynamic therapeutic relationship between the analyst and the patient, and also creates in the patient a sense of object permanence and thereby increases trust in the relationship both in the office and in real life .

Technically, completing a course of psychoanalysis looks like this: the patient tells the psychoanalyst everything that comes to his mind, without critical evaluation: these could be dreams, real-life events, feelings about what is happening or what happened once, some dialogues - in general, everything that is in the head, even if there is no direct logical connection between all this. This is called the free association method. The psychoanalyst, in turn, listens to the patient, connects thoughts and interprets (gives a different understanding) the unconscious content of what the patient tells the psychoanalyst.

The therapeutic effect is achieved through several aspects: firstly, the story of a previous traumatic experience in itself brings relief by speaking out loud painful feelings and experiences; secondly, a non-critical and non-judgmental attitude and support from the analyst allows the patient to gain new experience of communicating with another person; thirdly, awareness of one’s unconscious conflicts with the help of psychoanalysis and their gradual elaboration leads to liberation from existing “symptoms”, a deeper understanding of oneself, one’s desires, and the release of mental energy for self-development and creativity.

As a result, the quality of “inner mental life” increases significantly, which in reality manifests itself in the ability to calmly withstand the uncertainty of life, safely live through various life conflicts (without panic attacks, depression and addictions), build happy and long-term relationships and find a life’s work to your liking.

Psychoanalysis of children has much in common with psychoanalysis of adults, only instead of free associations (words), children use play (toys, pencils, plasticine, etc. are used). With the help of free play (the child psychoanalyst, without interfering with the game, comments on what is happening and asks questions), the child expresses his feelings, fantasies, fears, which are often the cause of problems.

In the process of psychoanalytic work, the course of the child’s natural mental development is restored. The energy that was previously aimed at resolving internal conflict is released and redirected to goals and objectives that are relevant for the child’s age.

What problems should you address to an adult psychoanalyst?

Psychoanalysis is the most effective method of treating most psychological problems and mental disorders. A psychoanalytic psychotherapist will help overcome the following difficulties:

• self-doubt, low self-esteem
• Difficulty in establishing love and friendships
• difficulties in relationships with loved ones (infidelity, jealousy, sexual problems, misunderstandings, quarrels)
• loneliness
• communication problems
• self-discovery, personal growth and development
• age crises, loss of meaning in life
• Difficulty controlling emotions (anger, anxiety, increased tearfulness)
• obsessive thoughts and actions (constant hand washing, constantly checking “everything is turned off”, “if the door is closed”, rituals)
• eating disorders (overeating, bulimia, anorexia);
• increased anxiety;
• panic attacks;
• psychological trauma, violence;
• fears, phobias;
• psychosomatic diseases (bronchial asthma, hypertension, gastritis, colitis, migraines, skin diseases, etc.);
• depression (including postpartum)
• sleep disorders (insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, nightmares);
• addictions (gambling addiction, drug addiction, alcoholism);
• sexual problems (frigidity, premature ejaculation, psychological impotence, fear of sexual intercourse, etc.);
• neuroses.

What problems should you address to a child psychoanalyst?

Child behavior problems:

• Aggressive behavior (fighting, taking away toys, pushing, biting, etc.)
• Difficulties in adapting to kindergarten, school (cries for a long time, not letting go of mom/dad; doesn’t listen to educators/teachers, has no contact with peers, etc.)
• Self-harm (pulling out hair, biting nails, picking skin, making cuts on the skin of the legs and arms, etc.)
• Shyness, unsociability
• Hyperactivity, absent-mindedness
• School failure

Traumatic life situations:

• Death of a family member or friend
• Divorce of parents
• Violence (physical or psychological)
• Change of school, move.

Emotional disorders:

• Sleep and nutrition disorders
• Nightmares, fears, phobias
• Obsessive thoughts, actions
• Speech disorders, tics
• Tearfulness
• Often sick, gastrointestinal problems, skin diseases.

Who is a psychoanalyst?

A psychoanalyst is a person who has a specialized psychological or medical education and has undergone additional retraining in this area. There are main ways to become a psychoanalyst: 1) Appropriate education and a certain amount of supervision; 2) Reading books on psychoanalysis (Freud and his followers); 3) Own analysis, and it is at least 250 hours. This is necessary in order not to shift your own problems onto the person.

Therefore, when choosing a specialist, ask where and how many hours he himself lay on the couch.

There is an interesting video where Professor M. Reshetnikov discusses the topic of modern psychoanalysis and what the work of a psychoanalyst consists of.

So what is the main difference between psychoanalysis and other psychological techniques?

Psychoanalysis works to change the structure and character of the psyche, to find out the root cause and work through it, and not to relieve the symptom.

Psychoanalysis was the first to discover the method of “healing” by talking and, probably, that’s why he succeeded in it better than anyone else. The special technique of free association provides tremendous success in becoming aware of the unconscious. The technique is distinguished by a special way of thinking, in which a person says everything that appears in his thoughts. Trying not to criticize and discard unnecessary things. The trick is that there is nothing unnecessary. At the same time, the psychoanalyst, knowing how to listen in a certain way, analyzes everything that is happening now in the office and tries to understand where the unconscious has manifested itself at the moment.

Essentially, a psychoanalyst is a person who analyzes your echoes of the unconscious and presents them in a “digestible” form.

A small remark, the unconscious is all that part of our psyche that has a colossal influence on our lives and, for some reason, is not in the field of consciousness. The causes of our neurosis, phobias, true desires and much more can be hidden in the unconscious.

In the process of analysis, a person acquires memories of his own unique history, the ability to understand his desires and an awareness of cause and effect. At the same time, a colossally important right of choice is acquired where it did not exist before. Therefore, the analysis cannot be fast. After all, you need to have respect for your neurosis, which has been developing throughout your life. And you want to get rid of it in a couple of sessions. There is one unshakable rule in psychoanalysis: each subject is unique. This is reflected in the fact that the analyst never takes the position of “truly knowing.” And he will never give you advice or some techniques that you will need to use. Because, behind the seemingly “understandable” symptom and the sweet position of the “knowledgeable teacher,” there is a huge mistake in not seeing the unique structure of the analysand’s psyche and fate.

Psychoanalysis is like an island of freedom.

In the modern world, where a superficial view of man prevails. Where great attention is paid to external indicators and success. And a person devotes all his free time to “upgrading” himself and creating an image. Psychoanalysis remains an island of freedom, where the inner world is important, without trying to adapt it to current reality. The opportunity to meet yourself, without any evaluation from the analyst, gives you a chance to get to know your own true desire, to freely express your thoughts and emotions.

Why do people turn to a psychoanalyst?

Each person is a unique story and therefore appeals may be different. This could be a feeling of apathy, the meaninglessness of life, a feeling of emptiness, obsessive states, phobias that repeat life situations, a crisis in relationships, experiences of grief, loss of meaning in life, as well as any other topics that you would like to discuss. The psychoanalyst represents the image of a guide who does not judge or give advice, who walks alongside you and illuminates your path with a flashlight, as he has a map of the area. A listener who will not leave any of your thoughts unattended.

Why psychoanalysis?

Author of this brochure: Mikhail Reshetnikov, Doctor of Psychology.

Who needs psychotherapy?

There is an opinion that a strong personality is one who can cope with all his psychological problems on his own. This, of course, is a deep misconception. Feeling discomfort in the stomach or intestines, we rush to the gastroenterologist, feeling a tingling in the heart, we turn to a cardiologist, etc., usually not daring to resort to self-medication, although each of us, of course, knows much more about the stomach or heart than about the psyche.

There is another misconception, widespread even among doctors, that we think with our brains. Of course, this is not so: one could just as well argue that we walk with the spinal cord. Any thought has an all-organ and whole-body representation. And often it is long-term mental discomfort that leads to disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. Figuratively speaking, a person’s soul hurts, but the stomach, heart or liver screams about this pain. And at first, neither a cardiogram, nor an x-ray or tests will show any changes.

Most do not suspect this, and do not even know that consciousness is not the whole psyche, and not even a large part of it. Beyond the limits of consciousness there is a huge and powerful mental apparatus, the activity of which under normal conditions is inaccessible to introspection. It is in this part of the psyche that negative experiences and unreacted emotions accumulate, it is here that nightmares and obsessive thoughts are produced that haunt both day and night, it is here that the mental and somatic (bodily) meet and intertwine in the most unimaginable ways. A person tries to cope with this pain of the soul on his own, but, as a rule, without success. Because here, as in any other field, a specialist is needed, and of the highest qualifications.

There are no people who don't have problems. Therefore, everyone periodically needs psychotherapy, and it is better not to wait until this or that problem becomes insurmountable, and mental pain begins to transform into a somatic illness.

A few examples

Against the background of complete health, a young girl develops a persistent disturbance in the functioning of the stomach and intestines. Quite slim before this, she loses about 30% of her weight. Therapists and infectious disease specialists find neither causes nor effective treatments. And the problem that the patient could not “digest” lies not in the somatic, but in the mental sphere... A completely prosperous, non-drinking and non-smoking young man falls into depression, “suddenly” stops contacting his parents, and decides to leave the university. It seems to the parents that he hates them, and the patient himself, having agreed to come to the psychoanalyst, initially expresses the same thoughts, but in fact it turns out that this is only a reaction to the decrease in attention of the parents, who considered that the child was already old enough to could take care of themselves... The wife suspects her husband of infidelity, one quarrel follows another, the family is on the verge of collapse, and only her visit to a psychotherapist helped her understand that it was not her husband, but she herself who was producing mistrust, the deep roots of which were hidden in her parental family... A charming and beautifully built girl suffers from the conviction of her unattractiveness. He perceives any compliments addressed to him as a lie or politeness, sexual caresses as undeserved by “such an ugly person.” The reason turns out to be deeply intimate... A young promising manager of one of the banks is not having a good relationship with his employees. As a result, someone else gets the next and long-awaited promotion. Family troubles are added to this “minor” disappointment. Gradually, the problem of the collapse of all interpersonal relationships becomes more and more frightening for him... But, as in all other cases, solvable.

However, the path to this solution is, as a rule, neither simple nor easy. And even if for a specialist the solution “lies on the surface,” the patient must come to it himself, and in his own way, in which the analyst is only an assistant and guide. Typical words from our former patients: “I began to understand myself for the first time”... “Something happened to all of us, but, of course, the reason was in me”... “Thank you for not being afraid of all this abomination”... “I began to communicate for the first time with other people without fear, and before I was even afraid to ask a salesman in a store a question”... “I considered myself a moral monster, and this poisoned me all my life”... “Sex” and “dirt” were synonymous for me, but now it’s no longer my fault my mother, she just wanted to protect me. And I don’t hate her anymore”... “I worked through my complexes and now I’ve become about ten times more successful - in work, in life, in love”...

First step

People need psychotherapy for a variety of reasons. Even completely healthy people. Someone wants to sort out their problems, their relationships, get rid of doubts or difficult memories. And just a friend or even a relative is not always able to help. And often the most sincere friendly advice does us a disservice.

Contacting a specialist is the first step, which indicates a real desire to change something in yourself, in your life, in the life of your family or in your relationships, in your career. And this step makes this desire more concrete. The very appeal to a specialist speaks, on the one hand, about the severity of your problems, and on the other, about the level of your spiritual maturity. Psychotherapy is not for the primitive and thick-skinned; they do not feel the need for it, since many feelings, including sadness and repentance, the search for meaning and the need for understanding, are simply unfamiliar to them. Therefore, your first step will always be taken correctly, and from the first visit you can count on the most serious attitude, respect and support. This brochure was written to introduce people to a special type of psychotherapy - psychoanalysis, a still little-known and unique therapeutic approach to people and their experiences. Only by accepting the special conditions and advantages of this approach, as well as the specific requirements that it makes, can you decide for yourself that psychoanalysis is for you.

Historical reference

Psychoanalysis arose at the dawn of the twentieth century thanks to the talent and efforts of the famous Viennese psychiatrist and psychologist Sigmund Freud and was both a revolutionary approach to understanding many mental phenomena, explaining the nature of human feelings and experiences, and a therapeutic method to help people with a wide variety of psychological problems, ranging from from the problems of everyday life to deep psychopathology. He helped to understand that the so-called “conscious” adult, who operates more or less successfully in “reality,” is only part of the whole personality. Beneath the rational (logical) there always lies the unconscious (illogical). And Freud was able to show what a powerful influence unconscious thoughts, feelings and desires and desires, hidden even from themselves, have on the health of his patients.

The rational in each of us is subordinated to the principle of reality. It, as a rule, corresponds to social standards of behavior and always takes a certain step at a certain time. The unconscious is always subject to the socially rejected, but nevertheless powerful principle of pleasure; it is illogical, there are no cause-and-effect relationships, no contradictions, no time. The most striking example of manifestations of the unconscious is our dreams, where we almost always encounter characters and events that are incompatible and even non-existent in real life. But, as you can see during the analysis process, such illogicality is present not only in dreams...

In the process of psychoanalysis, the patient’s unconscious becomes accessible to introspection and becomes conscious. The deeper essence of each of us is revealed and perceived, resulting in healing, relief of suffering and spiritual growth.

Why psychoanalysis was destroyed in Russia

Already at the beginning of the twentieth century, psychoanalysis gained worldwide fame. In fact, this was the first scientific method of a science that did not yet exist at that time - psychotherapy. Since 1913, it has been successfully used in Russia. In 1922, the Institute of Psychoanalysis opened in Russia. But the method of psychoanalysis itself, which initially centered on the individual, was categorically incompatible with Marxism. For Marxism was a theory in which there was absolutely no place for the individual, and even less so for the suffering individual. Therefore, for many decades, neuroses “selectively” affected only Western countries, and we all still lived in a sexless society of “comrades” and “comrades”, where of the four main spheres of personal self-realization (work, creativity, communication and sex), the second and third were significantly limited by ideology, and the latter, as a social category, was actually prohibited, and therefore, relegated to a primitive physiological act. Experiencing sexual problems, as well as communication problems (professional, domestic or family), was considered indecent. In 1924, the Institute of Psychoanalysis closed, all the works of Freud and his followers were removed from libraries - in Russian medical and psychological practice there is no longer a place for neuroses and, accordingly, psychotherapy, and more precisely, there is no place for Personality.

What changed?

At the end of the twentieth century, Russians finally gained some superficial understanding of psychoanalysis. But, paradoxically, familiarity with the now popular theory of psychosexual development of the child or with the typical symbols of psychoanalysis - the patient's couch, frank conversation without any restrictions, dream analysis and free associations - did not add to knowledge of how psychoanalysis works , or why more and more people are choosing it as their preferred method of psychotherapy. Even if you have read some of Freud's work, seen images of analysts in films, and heard what others have said about their own "analysis", you still do not know what actually happens during psychoanalytic sessions, and you will never understand it. without having experienced it. There are no standard techniques in psychoanalysis. And everything that will happen is initially determined by your individual development history, which is always unique and inimitable.

In 1991, the first Institute of Psychoanalysis in Russia opened in St. Petersburg, and only after 5 years of its existence its scientific and methodological advisory center began to function. You will understand why it took so long to achieve this after reading this brochure.

What makes psychoanalysis unique?

Psychoanalysis differs from other forms of psychotherapy primarily in its personal orientation or, in scientific terms, person-centricity. This means that the psychoanalyst is very little interested in always a hypothetical psychiatric diagnosis or even individual symptoms of a disease. The focus of his attention will always be your personality as a whole - both the “good” and “bad” components of it. Often the last component is overestimated. And then private problems, for example, painful doubts or an inescapable feeling of guilt, actually subjugate the personality. Psychoanalysis does not set as its basis the goal of simply “removing” this or that symptom, which, as practice shows, after some time may appear again in the same or another form. The main task is to establish the psychological nature of the symptom, identify its source and understand the dynamics of development. Self-awareness and self-understanding are the two most important keys to changing your attitudes and behavior, to overcoming anxiety and fear, and to the formation of adequate behavioral stereotypes.

However, just as without a mirror we cannot see some parts of our body (for example, the nose, ears, look into our eyes), so without an analyst on whom we project our emotions and mental images, we are not allowed to see the deep layers of our memory , turn to the essence of our secret feelings and experiences.

Any personality is determined by its history. This story can have very bright and light ones, but often there are also dark and even gloomy pages at the same time. Due to their education and practice, psychoanalysts know that you have never talked about much of your story with anyone at all, and if you have, then most likely you have never been listened to in full or you yourself chose not to tell everything. Something in your individual history may be so unacceptable that even you yourself cannot remember it. We will help you remember what, figuratively speaking, “is impossible to remember and impossible to forget.” We will clear these memories of the soot of unnaturalness, and you yourself will feel how much brighter the colors of the world have become, and how much cleaner and more transparent the air is.

Talking therapy

Psychoanalysis is often called “talking therapy” because the main content of regular meetings with an analyst is precisely a conversation about all your feelings, actions, dreams, fantasies, dreams and experiences. But this is a special type of conversation, for which the analyst (that is, a specialist who already has a higher psychological or medical education) additionally prepares for at least 5-6 years. This special type of conversation assumes the absence of any cultural and social restrictions - there are no taboo topics or words at all. And at the same time, all this is accompanied by the most delicate and practically substantiated psychological interpretation. Most people have never experienced such a relationship. Therefore, many experts emphasize that the very experience of the relationship between the analyst and the patient plays a special role in the formation of a mature personality. During analysis, you can and should talk about everything: about your current problems and concerns, about work, about relationships with others, about your feelings, about childhood, about your parents, dreams and fantasies (even if they seem perverted or criminal to you), about your teenage years or about what seems most important at the moment. The analyst's assistance in this somewhat one-sided conversation allows the patient to learn much more about the sources of his problems and how to change his life for the better. By talking about yourself and not being limited in any way in time, you will learn not only to listen, but also to understand yourself. At the same time (with the help of a specialist) you will very soon become convinced that thought and speech obey different laws.

Contrary to your expectations, the psychoanalyst will not condemn you, encourage you, or absolve you of your sins. Most often, he will be far from making any value judgments at all. Its task is fundamentally different - to help you understand yourself, gradually getting rid of social cliches of thinking, painful misconceptions, internal censorship and (often less than adequate) self-criticism. It’s as if you are learning again to say everything that comes to your mind. And it is precisely this uninhibited and unrestricted spontaneous speech, sometimes characterized as “free association,” that is one of the foundations of successful analysis.

Analysis procedure

Typically, during analysis, the patient lies on the couch and the analyst sits at the head of the bed behind him. The lack of eye-to-eye contact allows a person to feel more free and speak more spontaneously; and thus he is more closely in touch with his deepest feelings and thoughts. Of course, everything that is discussed at the analyst’s appointment is kept in the strictest confidence. And even in the records kept by the analyst, you will have some other name. A psychoanalyst will never demand a report from you from a dispensary or hospital, because the diagnosis is not important to him. He will never meet your family. He will never take an interest in your place of work and will never make inquiries about you. He doesn't need it. For him, only you as a Personality are important. He will never tell you that he is busy and cannot meet with you, because the most important thing in his profession is to meet with you and help you as much as you need.

Psychoanalysis is a safe way to reveal the deep essence of mental problems, no matter how painful it may be, and to accept this truth, which is obvious only to you. It gives you a unique opportunity to relive your personal history, take a fresh look at it and find connections between your past and conflicts in the present, while preventing them in the future. Establishing this connection will allow you to take a fresh look at any difficult situation and help you change. In fact, psychoanalysis is not a vaccination against any specific “infection”, but the development of immunity to many. Psychoanalysis is both a therapeutic and educational process. Even if there is something in your past that frightens you, once you face it, you will no longer be alone and it will no longer be scary.

Is the analysis always one-on-one?

No not always. In recent years, the method of group analysis has been actively developing, when one analyst (usually in this case called a conductor) works simultaneously with a group of 7-10 people. As trust is established between group members, a specific (therapeutic) community of people is formed who strive to understand and accept each other, the ability to listen to each other and the confidence that everyone will be heard develops. At the same time, rational stereotypes of interpersonal relationships, communication standards set by the conductor are learned, and psychopathological complexes are overcome.

Analyst training

Before starting to treat people, a psychoanalyst, in addition to all other types of theoretical and practical training, undergoes his own analysis of at least 100 hours in order to work through all his problems and not bring them into work with the patient. Analysts are considered only those who, already having a higher education, have completed at least a 4-year course of theoretical training, have a diploma from one of the state-licensed institutes of psychoanalysis and a special certificate of completion of personal analysis, as well as a certificate of specialization in the field of psychotherapy.

The importance of such preparation cannot be overestimated. It usually lasts, taking into account the personal analysis of the future analyst, for at least six years. By the time they begin working with patients, analysts are already quite mature, experienced, and well-trained professionally. Often, former patients themselves later become analysts, since this specialty involves not only a rich life experience, but also a rich emotional experience, including negative emotional experience.

Psychoanalysts may or may not be doctors. Before 1945, most analysts throughout the world received first medical and then psychoanalytic training. Today, most analysts by their first education are teachers, psychologists or social workers, others come to psychoanalysis from a variety of professions.

Who can benefit from psychoanalysis?

There is a stereotypical idea of ​​who exactly turns to a psychoanalyst. It is believed that these are predominantly people from the middle class or the wealthier part of society, and, as a rule, are quite intellectually developed. And this is mostly true, although this idea is gradually changing. In fact, psychoanalysis can be useful to men and women, children and adolescents belonging to a wide variety of social groups. Some analysts identify special psychological traits that contribute to the analytical process, in particular: the ability to reflect (introspection), the desire to understand one’s past, the determination to resolve certain problems, interest in the meaning of life, the ability to address the most unpleasant and painful experiences, the ability to observe , a sense of humor, a desire to become happier and more successful. More often than not, no one has all of these traits at the same time. But almost everyone who turns to an analyst has a desire to learn and better understand themselves and other people, a need to change or change something in their life.

Analysis decision

When people are considering whether to begin psychoanalysis, they usually and understandably want to know how much? How much time and money will be required, and how many unpleasant feelings will have to be endured. Here are some answers to help you decide if psychoanalysis is right for you.

Time

Psychoanalysis is never limited to a specific time or course of treatment. Everything is determined by how much time it will take to re-examine all the complex (or rather, complicated) layers of your feelings, understand all the unique nuances of your individual history and only then determine the real causes of certain personal or interpersonal problems, as well as form adequate stereotypes their permissions. In some cases, the analysis can last several months or even years, in others – several weeks. But you should always know that you determine the duration of the analysis yourself. And when you feel that you have achieved what you wanted or have solved the questions that you posed to yourself, you can always determine with your analyst the end date of the analysis.

The duration of psychoanalysis is never predictable. You may discover side issues of great importance or obstacles that will slow down your progress. In some cases you will have to stop or even retreat. But it will always be your decision. Psychoanalysis requires systematicity. It is most effective with two to three sessions per week, each lasting 45-50 minutes. This frequency of meetings contributes to the most successful work. As a rule, a psychoanalyst sees several patients every day, each of whom has a clearly defined meeting time for him, for example, 18.00-18.45; 19.00-19.45. Therefore, you will have to adapt to the restrictions associated with this - not to be late and learn to complete your next session by a certain point, no matter how much you want to extend it.

Price

Psychoanalysis requires an investment of not only time, but also money. The cost of one psychoanalytic session does not exceed the cost of one hour of work in other types of psychotherapy, but psychoanalysis is, as a rule, a longer “procedure”, which naturally implies the need to plan your budget. To make psychoanalysis more accessible and provide the opportunity to verify its effectiveness to as many people as possible, specialists of the National Federation of Psychoanalysis always take into account the real capabilities of their patients, determining its cost in each specific case individually and in a fairly wide range.

Usually the patient quickly becomes convinced that his costs are not that great; Moreover, it turns out that he spent much more money running away from problems or trying to solve them using other unproductive methods. The minimum contract with an analyst requires at least 5 sessions.

Psychoanalytic counseling may consist of one to three sessions. When deciding payment issues, you must remember that your psychoanalyst is not dealing with your problems as some kind of part-time job or hobby - he chose this profession long ago and for a long time, has undergone quite a long and labor-intensive training, is a highly qualified specialist and has no other sources of income other than payment his psychotherapeutic work. You will very soon see for yourself that this is really work, and I don’t remember any patients who would consider it easy.

Stress

During analysis, almost all patients note that such deep penetration into their past and present lives bothers them, sometimes making them sad, anxious or even irritated during the session or after it. We will not be frightened by your outbursts of irritation; we know how to accept and understand them.

Some are afraid to once again be captured by painful memories and feelings that once disabled them for a long time, not realizing that in fact they have never been free from them. Sometimes these fears are more simple: “I'm afraid I'll cry and won't be able to stop...” Nothing comes easy, and recovery in an area such as the psyche cannot be received as a gift from some magician or healer. This always requires working on yourself and combining your efforts with the experience and skills of a specialist. In psychoanalysis, the release of repressed feelings is one of the most important parts of the therapeutic process. But you will never be alone and will never be left alone with your fears or sad thoughts. Your analyst's job is to help you overcome both the first and second.

Analysis achievements

As the overwhelming majority of those who turned to an analyst and underwent analysis believe, the required investment of time and money, as well as difficult experiences, always pays off in the successes achieved.

Already in the process of analysis, people usually note that their relationships with others and professional activities become more successful. By better understanding themselves and those they encounter, people become freer. Finding a way out of external and internal conflicts, they can do what they really want, and not what circumstances force them to do, with more energy than before. They spend less time and effort resolving both the simplest issues and the most complex situations, and as a result, each of their days becomes more fulfilling, and the feelings from their day become more complete and comfortable. As a rule, they become more effective in material, family, and social terms. New successes come in creativity or career.

Those who have undergone analysis usually especially emphasize that the trusting relationship that has developed with the analyst has a specific impact on all their social, professional and family connections. They note that their feelings have become smoother and more stable. The purpose of psychoanalysis is to help you enrich your life, teach you to gain greater satisfaction from relationships with other people, resolve painful problems and conflicts, and make your personality more complete and joyful.

Who is a psychologist?

A psychologist is a specialist with a humanitarian education. This is like a connecting word for the general definition of people in this profession. Psychologists are:

• people working in the field of theoretical scientific issues. Practitioners involved in testing and various studies. • psychologists in schools, kindergartens, clinics and other government institutions. The job is low-paid, so don’t expect to meet a smiling person there who is ready to listen and sympathize with you for hours on end. • specialists in private practice (in the common people, they can “illegally” call themselves psychotherapists). We’ll talk about them in more detail below, since the directions there are a carriage and a small cart. • Clinical psychologists working in a psychoneurological clinic and focused on deep mental disorders.

In what cases do you contact a psychologist:

• Depression, feeling of apathy; • Loss of a loved one, separation, death; • Feeling of loneliness, incomprehensibility; • Sharp outbursts of rage or excessive shyness, passivity; • Lack of understanding of your feelings, confusion in thoughts; • Professional burnout; • Personality crises: teenage, middle age, etc.; • Panic attacks, phobias, fears; • Loss of interest in life; • Experiencing a traumatic situation; • Problems in relationships with people. • Sexual problems; • See the motivation and implementation of internal resources. The list is not complete, since each person is individual and the job request also cannot be classified.

What directions exist in psychology?

Oooh, this is where all the variety of methods and directions that exist at the moment is.

Let's go over the tops of these icebergs and briefly describe them:

1. Psychoanalysis. The brilliant creation of S. Freud, which provided the foundation for many modern trends. And what caused great damage to a person’s pride for the third time was the discovery of the unconscious and the description of the structure of the psyche. Copernicus was the first to point out that the Sun does not revolve around the Earth, but rather the Earth revolves around the Sun. The second is Darwin, with his theory of the origin of man from the ape. And the third is Freud, who showed that what a person is aware of about himself is not him. The theory is focused on deep psychology, working through internal conflicts, and deep understanding of oneself and one’s true desires. Since the process tends to go deeper, it takes longer. Therefore, therapy is long-term. Well, it was described in more detail earlier.

2. Transactional analysis. The founder of the theory, E. Berne, a follower of psychoanalysis, created his own theory of personality. Therapy is based on the interaction of three ego components of a person: the inner parent, the adult and the child. This interaction occurs both in the outside world, when communicating with other people, and as an internal dialogue with oneself. Internal dialogue often takes the form of conflict, filled with difficult feelings. A striking example of this: “I want” and “I need.” In the process of therapy, these parts are analyzed, getting rid of negative influences, exploring childhood experiences and how the outcome appears “Choice”.

3. Gestalt therapy. Gestalt is something holistic, complete. And therefore therapy is based on completing the processes that interfere with life (unfulfilled needs, unpleasant situation, resentment, anger, etc.). Closing the gestalt provides liberation from it. Why is it so important to close the gestalt? - because this is a time bomb, it is not clear when and where it will explode. Also, one of the areas of therapy is that this skill is in the moment, as it is now fashionable to say “here and now.” In therapy, great attention is paid to feelings as a guide to one’s own needs, the environment and the satisfaction of these needs in interaction with the world.

4. Symboldrama. Or the “daydreaming” method is free fantasy on any topic or one previously presented by a psychologist. The process goes as follows: a person relaxes, imagines an image, retells it to the therapist and analyzes it with him. The method gives a softer touch to traumatic situations and unconscious fantasies. Symboldrama is suitable for people with a developed emotional and figurative structure of experience, an irrational way of solving mental problems.

5. Cognitive behavioral therapy. In my opinion, it works great for relieving symptoms and developing new thinking skills. It is intended for short-term therapy, usually 10-15 sessions. On which you will be able to realize the main errors in thinking and reaction behavior. During therapy, it becomes clear what negative attitudes and thoughts influence behavior. The situation lends itself to critical thinking and negative attitudes are replaced by positive ones. That is, the main task of a specialist is to get to the essence and teach a person techniques of positive thinking.

6. NLP or neurolinguistic programming. It has in its arsenal special techniques for modeling verbal and non-verbal behavior and developing special connections between eye movements, memory and speech. If you retell all this in ordinary human language, it turns out that you are trying on the mask of a successful person and trying to adjust these skills in yourself in order to achieve success in the same area.

7. Art therapy. A direction in which psychology and art and creativity merged. What is difficult to express in words is expressed well in creativity. That is, when immersed in any process, be it drawing or dancing or music, our “cunning mind” forgets about caution and shows our emotional state and inner experiences as they are. And at the same time, an excellent opportunity arises to process, that is, to “pour out” some of the internal emotions that we have so diligently restrained (for example: sadness, pain, fear, euphoria, etc.). It is an excellent diagnostic tool if you have an experienced specialist with you who can decipher your creative product.

Who is a psychiatrist?

Let's start with a psychiatrist, about whom all sorts of horror stories have been circulating from generation to generation since Soviet times. A psychiatrist is a doctor who has received medical education. He works, in most cases, with psychopathologies, i.e. with mental disorders.

When should you contact a psychiatrist?

• In the presence of delusional thoughts, which manifest themselves in confidence in something that actually does not exist;
• The presence of voices, visions and other manifestations of hallucinations;
• Violations of criticism regarding one’s own behavior;
• With deep depression;
• Panic fear;
• Behavior that is inexplicable to others;
• Problems with attention, thinking and memory;
• For drug or alcohol addiction.

Etc., the list can go on and on, but I think, in general terms, several points can already give an understanding of why they visit a psychiatrist.

How is the treatment carried out?

This usually happens like this: the doctor recognizes your symptoms, examines the cognitive part and, based on his invaluable experience, makes a diagnosis and prescribes medication. Accordingly, he bears full legal responsibility for this.

He does not listen to your stories about the injustice of your childhood about an overprotective mother and an overly demanding father. Not because he is a callous and boorish person, but because he is first and foremost a Doctor and is focused on drug treatment. In addition, there is a regulation according to which a maximum of 15-20 minutes is allocated for each patient, and there are other specialists for conversations.

Can someone other than a psychiatrist (for example, a psychologist, psychoanalyst, etc.) give a prescription for medications?

No, because only a DOCTOR can write prescriptions. This applies to both strong antipsychotics and conventional antidepressants.

Do they register with the PND (psychoneurological dispensary) when visiting a psychiatrist?

There is an opinion that when contacting a psychiatrist, a person will be immediately registered. Let's understand today's realities of life.

Observation and treatment by a psychiatrist are divided into: 1. Medical and advisory assistance. 2. Clinical observation.

From the first it follows that the patient voluntarily comes to see the doctor and also voluntarily takes medications. If he suddenly changes his mind, no one will look for him and find out what’s wrong with him. Dispensary observation is not carried out in this case.

In the second case, if there is a mental disorder that occurs with severe exacerbations and periodicity (for example, paranoid schizophrenia), then a commission of psychiatrists, on the initiative of the attending physician, establishes dispensary observation for the person. This means that the patient is treated at his own request, but according to a certain schedule he needs to visit the attending physician for examination and prescription of medications. To place a person under dispersed observation, his condition is monitored for a long time. It is illegal to establish surveillance after the first visit.

Article No. 4: Who is a psychoanalyst? Education system and ethical requirements

In the question of who is considered a psychoanalyst, in fact, two questions are closely intertwined. The first concerns the training of the analysts themselves, the second concerns the public and unspoken requirements for those who not only carry out psi-therapy, but also do it under the name “psychoanalysis”. And this is perhaps the most controversial and painful issue, because... affects the interests of individuals and groups, incl. their financial and reputational resources. There is no consensus on it even within the psychoanalytic community.

Professional ethics

It is obvious that the moral requirements for doctors, psychologists, lawyers and a number of other professions are very high due to the fact that their work can have a great impact on the benefit of the client, his reputation and fate as a whole. And it was psychoanalysis, with its appearance, that gave impetus to the detailed development of professional ethics of psychologists and psychotherapists [previously it was believed that their behavior had no specificity and was subject to the norms of medical morality - approx. author ].

“The one who does the real work in analysis is the speaker, the analysing subject, even if he is encouraged to do so by the analyst who tells him how to act and also helps him with his interventions.” J. Lacan

At the same time, where many stopped at purely formal requirements for etiquette, Freud went further and raised the question of personal analysis of psychoanalysts. For a person to hear the uniqueness of someone else’s unconscious, something more is required than good wishes and several years at the institute. As Lacan would later say, in psychoanalysis two people pay: the client pays with money and lost illusions, and the analyst pays with his personality, which should not be present in the analysis. Freud will also introduce the practice of supervision, which he sees not only as a means of teaching psychoanalysis, but also as a constant need to look at one’s work from the outside, to receive criticism, regardless of experience and credentials.

Norms and procedures

For this reason, psychoanalysts have one of the strictest access to practice, although it is usually not arranged through large institutions, such as state licensing or the system of higher professional education. Key admission requirement: personal analysis and/or didactic analysis, as well as testimony from other psychoanalysts. For example, the IPA (International Psychoanalytic Association) takes into account the opinion of the candidate’s analyst, from whom he underwent didactic analysis. Plus, the norm for acquiring the status of an IPA psychoanalyst is considered to be 600 hours of didactic analysis, 400 hours of experience and 400 hours of supervision [similar, but often reduced requirements are found in other associations, for example, among Gestalt therapists - approx. author ]. Since within the framework of IPA schools the session length is traditionally 50 minutes, and the frequency of sessions does not exceed 2-3 per week, you can calculate for yourself how much time and money you will need just to comply with the norm. However, this scheme is inflexible and often turns into a closed-door policy, and therefore some consider it outdated and unnecessary.

Followers of Lacan, united in AMP (Association Mondiale de Psychanalyse), replaced this system with the pass procedure (pass - in French, “passing”). This procedure does not imply quantitative norms, but places high demands on self-change. Lacan rejected too strict formal boundaries, including temporal ones, since the unconscious knows no time and is always unique. In addition, Lacan paid great attention to the question of what the desire to be an analyst is based on, and therefore rejected the possibility of someone from the outside deciding for the subject. During the pass, the candidate must present his analysis in the form of a case to the school's psychoanalysts, who will evaluate not only the level of elaboration of the symptom, but also must confirm the candidate's ability to separate himself from his own phantasms and identifications.

The psychoanalyst's job is not to become a mirror or a convenient screen for the client, but rather to create an empty space into which speech flows.

Thus, psychoanalysis is largely determined not by knowledge, but by skill and experience. In addition, there is no consensus on what knowledge and skills a future psychoanalyst should have. For example, in some countries analysts are trained from psychiatrists and physicians, and in others from specialists in the humanities.

Based on these features, it is also worth distinguishing between psychotherapy oriented by the theory of psychoanalysis and psychotherapy oriented by the ethics of psychoanalysis. Ordinary clients, although not experts in this field, can, in the process, understand who is in front of them. In the first case, psychoanalytic principles are only one of the tools for studying man as an object. In the second, the attitude towards the subject, his request and transference are decisive in the work, and theory helps to guide this work.

Analyst as a product of analysis

Actually, theory in psychoanalysis provokes search and teaches us to invent. The only material for the psychoanalyst is speech or what can be considered as such, but that is why analysis is possible only where special conditions for speech are created. Analytical discourse is difficult simply because each of us has years of everyday experience using language. Mikhail Sobolev once noted , this is similar to the children's game “Neither yes nor no”: where a demand appears in the subject’s speech, you must be able not to answer it, leaving a lack or a question. And here there are no ready-made means; in each case you have to invent something.

Psychoanalysis is the interaction of two people in one room, i.e. essentially a certain kind of meeting of two unconscious people. Therefore, psychoanalysis by correspondence or Skype is extremely doubtful; even considering that Freud underwent his "analysis" in letters to Fliess . This interaction is asymmetrical: the subject with the unconscious here is only the client, and the analyst occupies the empty space to which speech is addressed.

“Analytical treatment requires hard work from both the doctor and the patient, aimed at eliminating internal resistances.” Z. Freud

However, each analyst is still a person with his own unconscious, and therefore ideal analysts, equally suitable for everyone, do not exist and cannot exist. Any professional and psi-specialist is no exception - he is not only a performer of a function, but also a person behind whom stands a certain complex of symptoms. Or to put it simply, we are who we are thanks to our characteristics, incl. unconscious, and sometimes associated with suffering. For the desire to help others with their problems, for the ability to empathize, observation or ability to analyze, etc. and so on. most often it is personal traumas, symptoms and desires of the psychotherapist. Having worked through his history, a psychoanalyst does not become a person without a biography, but he learns to use “his baggage” for the benefit of his cause.

There are analysts who are better at working with hysteria or obsessive neuroses, and there are those who work successfully with psychotics. Some, by virtue of their desire, work mainly with children, others with adults. I'm not even saying that everyone makes mistakes. Therefore, it is worth remembering that an unsuccessful or unpleasant experience of interaction with a certain analyst is not yet a reason for generalizations in the spirit of “they are all like that.”

Moreover, in Russia and the CIS countries the situation is far from ideal: alas, anyone can call themselves a psychoanalyst. Even those who simply read Freud, but never had their analysis, especially from a well-analyzed psychoanalyst from school. However, the more society knows about psychoanalysis, the less chance there is for outright charlatans and simply people minding their own business.

The bottom line about this prejudice is quite simple: a psychoanalyst is someone who knows the theory well, has completed his analysis relatively successfully and has discovered in it his unique desire, which allows him to be an ethical analyst. Beware of fakes.

Psychotherapist and his difference from a psychiatrist

In Russia, only psychiatrists who have completed additional education in the field of psychology can be called a psychotherapist. They are like a connecting link between psychiatrists and psychologists.

Surprisingly, in the countries of Europe and America there are no such strict criteria; their psychotherapists can be both psychiatrists and psychologists. Therefore, our ordinary Russian people are often confused by foreign films with figures of psychotherapists. Who, sitting in a chair, with a languid look, receive the client lying on the couch and conduct conversations with him, due to which the treatment takes place. In Russia, this is usually done by psychologists.

To summarize, a psychotherapist is a psychiatrist who has decided to move to the “dark” side of psychology and start helping people in a non-medicinal way. You can turn to him both in severe psychopathic conditions and to solve pressing disturbing moments in life. But in the realities of our time in Russia, psychotherapists are called all and sundry, including psychologists and psychiatrists))) On a side note, I would like to note that the education of a doctor does not always give an advantage in competence and usefulness for you. In this delicate profession, it is the personality of the specialist who treats and it is better to focus on this when choosing. So psychologists are often much more productive for a person because they do not look at you from the perspective of a patient.

To summarize, we can say that when choosing which specialist to go to for one reason or another, one should not forget that the main figure is not the method in which he works, but the person himself. Therefore, carefully check the education, competence and availability of your own analysis. And don’t forget about the feeling of comfort and safety in the office, because in order to trust you need to trust.