Psychoanalysis was founded on the discovery that we are unconscious of the many factors that determine our emotions and behavior. Psychoanalysis is an approach which addresses longstanding emotional distress and it originated with the work Sigmund Freud. Modern Analysis, in addition, also relies on subsequent theories and practices that assist self-understanding.
In making the unconscious conscious, Modern Analysis is a form of truth-seeking and it’s a truthfulness about our desires and motives that does not come easily. Yet, the thrust of analysis continues to insist that the more honest we are with ourselves, the greater our chances of living a satisfying and fulfilling life.
In Modern Analysis, the quality of the relationship between the analyst and the patient is critical. Modern Analysis is built on a collaborative partnership in the course of which — the patient becomes aware of the formative aspects of their life, not simply intellectually, but emotionally — by re-experiencing them with the analyst.
In the course of analysis, we look together beyond our symptoms to understand the underlying causes of distress. By taking this distress seriously, we take ourselves seriously and gain perspective and confidence in our own choices and doings.
Modern Psychoanalysis aims high and understands that by exploring our personal histories and knowing ourselves more fully, we improve our chances of living a satisfying, fulfilling, and meaningful life.
