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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Simcha on June 8, 2004, at 1:15:51
I have the opportunity to begin analysis. This has been presented to me by my Diagnosis and Assessment professor. She is a trainee at the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California. I'm currently beginning my third and last year working toward an MA in Counseling Psychology and I begin my internship later this summer. I'm seeing a therapist who I really like. I've seen him for the past two years. Yet I'm really intrigued by the possibility of going deeper. It sounds like heck of a deal. Trainees charge much less than full psychoanalysts. Also this might give me more clarity when I start working with my own clients....
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has tried psychoanalysis and if it has worked for anyone.
Thanks,
Simcha
Posted by tabitha on June 8, 2004, at 2:23:07
In reply to Has Anyone Ever Tried Psychoanalysis?, posted by Simcha on June 8, 2004, at 1:15:51
Here's a link to an older thread about it...
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20031213/msgs/291847.html
Posted by Pfinstegg on June 8, 2004, at 11:35:49
In reply to Has Anyone Ever Tried Psychoanalysis?, posted by Simcha on June 8, 2004, at 1:15:51
Hi. In one of the threads above, Lucy Stone and I both talked about being in analysis- she for three years, me for a little more than one. We both have found it invaluable- going every day, and lying on the couch, if one chooses, allow us to go so much more deeply into our own minds and feelings. Also, the constancy of the relationship with the analyst allows very intense feelings of attachment to develop, which seems to have a wonderful effect on one's well-being and capacity to integrate traumas from the past. The analysts these days are very interactive, and will be very responsive- you won't ever feel left alone on the couch with a "blank slate"!
As you can see, I think highly of it, and cannot think of a better way to become truly skilled in your chosen profession. For anyone, it is a profound and growth -promoting experience. If you have such a good opportunity, I'd say don't miss it! The Institute you mentioned has an excellent reputation as being very forward thinking and up to date with all the new information from the neurosciences. Will you let us know what you decide? So far, I think it's only Lucy and me who are having the experience and posting about it here.
Posted by lucy stone on June 8, 2004, at 12:24:22
In reply to Has Anyone Ever Tried Psychoanalysis?, posted by Simcha on June 8, 2004, at 1:15:51
I agree with Pfinstegg that you should grab this opportunity if you can. I am finding my analysis to be profound and am learning so much about myself. Another thing I like about analysis is that every analyst has been through analysis. Your T knows what it feels like to lie on the couch (if you choose to) and struggle with your issues day after day. They also know about the intense attachment Pfinstegg talks about first hand. It helps me imensely to know that my T has gone through the same experience that I have and knows what it feels like. I think the self knowledge you would gain by doing an alysis would be enormously helpful in your future work.
Posted by Simcha on June 9, 2004, at 20:44:25
In reply to Re: Has Anyone Ever Tried Psychoanalysis?, posted by lucy stone on June 8, 2004, at 12:24:22
Thanks to all of you who have responded. I'm seriously considering this. It sounds like both Lucy and Pfinstegg have both had positive experiences. I do think that this would be a wonderful opportunity for me to go very deep. I emailed my current therapist and he is not threatened by this at all. He told me to search my heart and that whatever answer pops up would be the right one for me. I've been with him for two years and I've had such amazing growth. I do know that as I sit with clients in a more structured setting I will need extra support.
Thanks,
Simcha
Posted by Pfinstegg on June 10, 2004, at 14:25:25
In reply to Re: Has Anyone Ever Tried Psychoanalysis?, posted by Simcha on June 9, 2004, at 20:44:25
I can see that you have been doing wonderfully with your present therapist, and that it would be hard to leave him for an unknown analyst. The one big advantage of psychoanalysis is that, because you do go so often, and perhaps because you lie down, you tend to regress to what your core feelings and conflicts really are, and you work steadily with your analyst on those deepest parts of you. That seems to be what can make it so transforming. It also gives you such a reserve of self-knowledge to help you avoid getting into puzzling counter-transference situations as a therapist yourself. Or, perhaps I should say that it helps you get out of the ones you'll naturally get into more easily!
I treasure the experience I am having so much. I hope you will give it a chance; if it doesn't turn out to be very positive, you could return to your present therapist, couldn't you?
This is the end of the thread.
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