The Lowdown: This is your traditional patient lays on a black, leather couch kind of therapy. Based on the theories of Sigmund Freud (you might have heard of him), the patient, or "analysand," goes to see the analyst about four times a week, lies on a couch and practices free association. This includes verbalizing any thoughts, feelings, dreams or fantasies. From these musings, the analyst interprets the unconscious thoughts and drives (the Id) below the surface and defense mechanisms getting in the patient's way. The thought is that once repressed emotions are brought to awareness (by the Ego), the patient is able to confront them and change neurotic behavior patterns (the Superego).
Blah, blah, blah. That sounds really confusing. It's basically a lot of digging about how your parents screwed you up.
You'll like this type of therapy if: You like to lay down and/or you have a whole lot of time (and money) to devote to figuring yourself out.
