Posted by lookdownfish on August 18, 2004, at 16:25:28
In reply to Therapy / Analysis - whats the difference?, posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 10:52:11
Briefly, off the top of my head:
Analysis is more likely to address all aspects of the person's life, whereas psychotherapy is more likely to aim to sort out specific problems.
Analysis is more likely to occur more than once per week, and is long term - maybe 2 or more years? The patient often lies on the couch with the analyst out of sight.
In analysis you are supposed to free associate - say whatever comes into your head. The analyst is, as you say, less likely to intervene than a psychotherapist. They will reflect back and point out things to you that you cannot see for yourself. They don't direct or advise you. The aim of analysis is to become aware of and to resolve unconscious conflicts.
My T is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist, so some of these aspects of analysis apply.
poster:lookdownfish
thread:378655
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040812/msgs/379193.html