Chapter 4 - Psychoanalytic Therapy

1. Who is associated with the theory?
     - Sigmund Freud, Erik Erikson, Carl Jung
 
2. What are the basic assumptions underlying this approach?
     - The basic assumptions of the Psychoanalytic Theory are that we as humans are basically determined by early experiences, both conscious and unconscious.  Development in early childhood is of extreme importance because our personality problems later in life are due to our childhood conflicts.
 
3. What are a few of the key concepts that are essential to this theory?
     - A few of the key concepts to the Psychoanalytic Therapy are the structure of personality.  According to Freud, the personality consists of three systems - the id, the ego, and the superego.  The id is "roughly all the untamed drives or impulses that might be likened to the biological component" (p. 64).  Id is the original system of personality.  The ego "attempts to organize and mediate between the id and the reality of dangers posed by the id's impulses" (p. 64).  The ego governs, controls and regulates the personality.  The superego "is the internalized social component, largely rooted in what the person imagines to be the expectations of parental figures" (p. 64).  The superego could be compared to the judicial branch of personality.  "It includes a person's moral code, the main concern being whether an action is good or bad, right or wrong" (p. 65).
 
4. What do you consider the most important goals of this theory?
     - The most important goal of the Psychoanalytic Theory is to increase adaptive functioning, which involves the resolution of conflicts.  Freud wanted to make the unconscious conscious and to strengthen our ego's so that our behaviors are based on reality and not instincts or irrational thoughts.
 
5. What role does the therapeutic relationship play in terms of therapy outcomes?
     - The role of the therapeutic relationships in the Psychoanalytic Theory is for the analyst to teach the client how to make the connection between their current behaviors and how it is related to their past.
 
6. What are a few of the techniques from this therapy model that you would want to incorporate into your counseling practice?
     - The therapy is focused on limited objectives, not restructuring the client's personality.  The therapist is less likely to sit on a 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.  There is more emphasis on the here-and-now relationships between therapist and client.  The main techniques therapists use are free association, in which "clients are encouraged to say whatever comes to mind, regardless of how painful, silly, trivial, illogical, or irrelevant it may seem" (p. 79).  Interpretation "consists of the analyst's pointing out, explaining, and even teaching the client the meanings of behavior that is manifested in dreams, free association, resistances, and the therapeutic relationship itself" (p. 80).  Dream analysis "is an important procedure for uncovering unconscious material and giving the client insight into some areas of unresolved problems" (p.80).

7. What are some of the ways that this theory is applied to client populations, settings, and treatment of problems?
     - This theory can be used with almost any client population for the fact that every person has had a childhood and past experiences that have caused some sort of crises in their lives.  The setting for therapy can pretty much anywhere that the client and therapist can have 1-on-1 private interactions.
 
8. What do you see as the major strength of this theory from a diversity perspective?
     - The major strength of this theory from a diversity perspective is the fact that it can be used for practically any diverse population, because everyone has had a childhood and past experiences which caused crises in the clients lives.
 
9. What do you see as the major limitation of this theory from a diversity perspective?
     - The major limitation of this theory is that it usually is costly and generally perceived as being based on upper- and middle-class values. 
 
10. What do you consider to be the most significant contribution of this approach?
     - I believe the most significant contribution of this approach is the fact that it has helped provide a very detailed description of personality stages, structure, and functioning.
 
11. What do you consider to be the most significant limitation of this approach?
     - I believe the most significant limitation of this approach is that the therapists need a lot of training to be able to be effective and efficient with this approach, which can be costly and time consuming.