Psychoanalysis Psychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). Freud believed that people could be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight. The aim of psychoanalysis therapy is to release repressed emotions and experiences, i.e. make the unconscious conscious. The basic tenets of psychoanalysis include: Psychoanalysis designates concomitantly three things: Confrontation This is a practice often done prior to an intervention where the patient is encouraged to attend to experiences that they have been avoiding. Countertransference This refers to the analyst’s feelings and attitudes towards the patient: his/her reaction to the patient’s transference, how his/her own experiences impact his/her understanding of the patient, and the analyst’s emotional responses to the patient. Defense Mechanisms Defense mechanisms are used by the ego as a way to deal with conflict of problems in life. Operating at an unconscious level, defense mechanisms help to reduce negative feelings (e.g. anxiety and guilt). Common defense mechanisms include repression, denial, and projection. Dream It is a mental event that consists of hallucinations involving imagery and emotions. Dreams occur during the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage during sleep. According to Freud, current concerns and unconscious childhood wishes are present during the day and require gratification and it is dreams that allow us to respond to this demands while continuing to sleep (e.g., a person who is thirsty dreams about drinking water which allows him to continue sleeping rather than having to wake up and satisfy his thirst) Ego Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The function of the ego can be described as running interference between the id and the superego. It mediates between the drives of the id and the need for self-preservation. The ego is responsible for the development of the skills needed to function in the world, for example, impulse control, perception, evaluation and judgment. Id Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The id is the part of the mind that contains one’s most basic and instinctive drives. It is governed by sexual and aggressive desires and pleasure seeking. The contents of the id are entirely unconscious; Freud stated that the goal of analysis is to uncover what is repressed in the id so that, “where id was, there ego shall be.” Superego Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The superego can be thought of as the part of the mind that acts as the conscience. Its function is to stop or punish behaviour that is unacceptable according the ego ideal, i.e., the standards, values, and images of perfection that begin to develop in childhood, and which some psychoanalysts believe to develop over a lifetime. Failure to live up to these standards results in feeling of gui.

1. Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). Freud believed that people could
be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight.
The aim of psychoanalysis therapy is to release repressed emotions and experiences, i.e. make
the unconscious conscious.
The basic tenets of psychoanalysis include:
Psychoanalysis designates concomitantly three things:
Confrontation
This is a practice often done prior to an intervention where the patient is encouraged to attend to
experiences that they have been avoiding.
Countertransference
This refers to the analyst’s feelings and attitudes towards the patient: his/her reaction to the
patient’s transference, how his/her own experiences impact his/her understanding of the patient,
and the analyst’s emotional responses to the patient.
Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are used by the ego as a way to deal with conflict of problems in life.
Operating at an unconscious level, defense mechanisms help to reduce negative feelings (e.g.
anxiety and guilt). Common defense mechanisms include repression, denial, and projection.
Dream
It is a mental event that consists of hallucinations involving imagery and emotions. Dreams
occur during the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage during sleep. According to Freud, current
concerns and unconscious childhood wishes are present during the day and require gratification
and it is dreams that allow us to respond to this demands while continuing to sleep (e.g., a person
who is thirsty dreams about drinking water which allows him to continue sleeping rather than
having to wake up and satisfy his thirst)
Ego
Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The
function of the ego can be described as running interference between the id and the superego. It
mediates between the drives of the id and the need for self-preservation. The ego is responsible
for the development of the skills needed to function in the world, for example, impulse control,
perception, evaluation and judgment.
Id
Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The id
is the part of the mind that contains one’s most basic and instinctive drives. It is governed by
sexual and aggressive desires and pleasure seeking. The contents of the id are entirely

2. unconscious; Freud stated that the goal of analysis is to uncover what is repressed in the id so
that, “where id was, there ego shall be.”
Superego
Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The
superego can be thought of as the part of the mind that acts as the conscience. Its function is to
stop or punish behaviour that is unacceptable according the ego ideal, i.e., the standards, values,
and images of perfection that begin to develop in childhood, and which some psychoanalysts
believe to develop over a lifetime. Failure to live up to these standards results in feeling of guilt
or shame. Success in living up to the ego ideal results in enhanced self-esteem, i.e. feeling good
about oneself.
Resistance
Resistance refers to a patient’s unconscious opposition to the unveiling and exploration of
painful memories during psychoanalysis. It is often conveyed through mental process, fantasies,
memories, character defensives, and behaviour. While it initially occurs unconsciously, it may
persist long after the patient is made consciously aware of this behaviour.
Libido
A term generally used to refer to one’s sexual desires or more specifically, the mental energy
responsible for one’s sex drive. This concept represents Freud’s notion that sexual interest exists
throughout life and that it is responsible for activities that involve sexual desire and/or affection.
Psychoanalysis therapy
Psychoanalytic therapy tends to look at experiences from early childhood to see if these events
have affected the individual’s life, or potentially contributed to current concerns. This form of
therapy is considered a long-term choice and can continue for weeks, months or even years
depending on the depth of the concern being explored. Differing from several other therapy
types, psychoanalytic therapy aims to make deep-seated changes in personality and emotional
development.
The most common problems treatable with psychoanalysis include: phobias, conversions,
compulsions, obsessions, anxiety attacks, depressions, sexual dysfunctions, a wide variety of
relationship problems (such as dating and marital strife), and a wide variety of character
problems (for example, painful shyness, meanness, obnoxiousness, workaholism,
hyperseductiveness, hyperemotionality, hyperfastidiousness). The fact that many of such patients
also demonstrate deficits above makes diagnosis and treatment selection difficult.
Relationship Therapy
Relationship therapy or Relationship counselling is the process of counselling the parties of a
human relationship in an effort to recognize, and to better manage or reconcile, troublesome
differences and repeating patterns of stress upon the relationship. The relationship involved may

3. be between members of a family or a couple, employees or employers in a workplace, or
between a professional and a client.
Relationships require work and are bound to face challenges large and small. Simple, everyday
stressors can strain an intimate relationship, and major sources of stress may threaten the stability
of the relationship. As long as each partner is willing to address the issue at hand and participate
in developing a solution, most relationship problems are manageable, but when challenges are
left unaddressed, tension mounts, poor habits develop, and the health and longevity of the
relationship are in jeopardy.
Chronic relationship conflict or stress can contribute to mental health conditions, like depression
or anxiety, for one or both partners. Relationship problems can also affect one’s self-esteem and
physical health or lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or anger. Sometimes addictive behaviours, like
substance abuse, are employed by one or both partners in order to avoid confronting the source
of the relationship conflict. Relationship problems can also adversely affect family members,
such as children, who may repeatedly witness relationship conflict between their parents.
Couple's therapy is a subset of relationship therapy. It may differ from other forms of
relationship counselling in various regards including its duration. Short term counselling may be
between 1 to 3 sessions whereas long term couples therapy may be between 12 and 24 sessions.
Several therapy approaches have been designed for couples in particular, such as Imago
Relationship Therapy, but any type of therapy can help with relationship issues. In fact, many
people address their relationship problems through individual therapy, and then they apply that
learning in context with their partners. In addition, family therapy can benefit families whose
children are affected by the tension in their parents’ relationship.
Relationship counsellors are unlikely to take sides or recommend that a couple end their
relationship. Instead, they will allow the therapy process to unfold naturally without a
predetermined goal of “saving” the relationship. Trained therapists help partners by supporting
the goals set by the couple and helping each partner to communicate his or her needs, thoughts,
and emotions more clearly and to listen to the other partner more carefully.
For relationship counselling to significantly help a relationship, each partner should demonstrate
honesty, an interest in doing relationship work, and a willingness to accept personal
accountability.
Flooding therapy
Flooding is a form of behaviour therapy based on the principles of respondent conditioning. It is
sometimes referred to as exposure therapy or prolonged exposure therapy. As a
psychotherapeutic technique, it is used to treat phobia and anxiety disorders including post-
traumatic stress disorder.
It works by exposing the patient to their painful memories, with the goal of reintegrating their

4. repressed emotions with their current awareness. Flooding was invented by psychologist Thomas
Stampfl in 1967. It is still used in behaviour therapy today.
"Flooding" is an effective form of treatment for phobias amongst other psychopathologies. It
works on the principles of classical conditioning or respondent conditioning, a form of Pavlov's
classical conditioning where patients change their behaviours to avoid negative stimuli.
According to Pavlov, people learn through associations, so if one has a phobia, it is because one
associates the feared stimulus with a negative outcome.
Flooding uses a technique based on Pavlov's classical conditioning that uses exposure. There are
different forms of exposure, such as imaginal exposure, virtual reality exposure, and in vivo
exposure.
Psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe carried out an experiment which demonstrated flooding. He took a
girl who was scared of cars, and drove her around for hours. Initially the girl was hysterical but
she eventually calmed down when she realized that her situation was safe. From then on she
associated a sense of ease with car.
Flooding therapy is not for every individual, and the therapist will discuss with the patient the
levels of anxiety they are prepared to endure during the session.
Solution
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis was founded by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). Freud believed that people could
be cured by making conscious their unconscious thoughts and motivations, thus gaining insight.
The aim of psychoanalysis therapy is to release repressed emotions and experiences, i.e. make
the unconscious conscious.
The basic tenets of psychoanalysis include:
Psychoanalysis designates concomitantly three things:
Confrontation
This is a practice often done prior to an intervention where the patient is encouraged to attend to
experiences that they have been avoiding.
Countertransference
This refers to the analyst’s feelings and attitudes towards the patient: his/her reaction to the
patient’s transference, how his/her own experiences impact his/her understanding of the patient,
and the analyst’s emotional responses to the patient.
Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are used by the ego as a way to deal with conflict of problems in life.
Operating at an unconscious level, defense mechanisms help to reduce negative feelings (e.g.

5. anxiety and guilt). Common defense mechanisms include repression, denial, and projection.
Dream
It is a mental event that consists of hallucinations involving imagery and emotions. Dreams
occur during the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage during sleep. According to Freud, current
concerns and unconscious childhood wishes are present during the day and require gratification
and it is dreams that allow us to respond to this demands while continuing to sleep (e.g., a person
who is thirsty dreams about drinking water which allows him to continue sleeping rather than
having to wake up and satisfy his thirst)
Ego
Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The
function of the ego can be described as running interference between the id and the superego. It
mediates between the drives of the id and the need for self-preservation. The ego is responsible
for the development of the skills needed to function in the world, for example, impulse control,
perception, evaluation and judgment.
Id
Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The id
is the part of the mind that contains one’s most basic and instinctive drives. It is governed by
sexual and aggressive desires and pleasure seeking. The contents of the id are entirely
unconscious; Freud stated that the goal of analysis is to uncover what is repressed in the id so
that, “where id was, there ego shall be.”
Superego
Sigmund Freud theorized that the mind was divided into three parts: id, ego and superego. The
superego can be thought of as the part of the mind that acts as the conscience. Its function is to
stop or punish behaviour that is unacceptable according the ego ideal, i.e., the standards, values,
and images of perfection that begin to develop in childhood, and which some psychoanalysts
believe to develop over a lifetime. Failure to live up to these standards results in feeling of guilt
or shame. Success in living up to the ego ideal results in enhanced self-esteem, i.e. feeling good
about oneself.
Resistance
Resistance refers to a patient’s unconscious opposition to the unveiling and exploration of
painful memories during psychoanalysis. It is often conveyed through mental process, fantasies,
memories, character defensives, and behaviour. While it initially occurs unconsciously, it may
persist long after the patient is made consciously aware of this behaviour.
Libido
A term generally used to refer to one’s sexual desires or more specifically, the mental energy
responsible for one’s sex drive. This concept represents Freud’s notion that sexual interest exists

6. throughout life and that it is responsible for activities that involve sexual desire and/or affection.
Psychoanalysis therapy
Psychoanalytic therapy tends to look at experiences from early childhood to see if these events
have affected the individual’s life, or potentially contributed to current concerns. This form of
therapy is considered a long-term choice and can continue for weeks, months or even years
depending on the depth of the concern being explored. Differing from several other therapy
types, psychoanalytic therapy aims to make deep-seated changes in personality and emotional
development.
The most common problems treatable with psychoanalysis include: phobias, conversions,
compulsions, obsessions, anxiety attacks, depressions, sexual dysfunctions, a wide variety of
relationship problems (such as dating and marital strife), and a wide variety of character
problems (for example, painful shyness, meanness, obnoxiousness, workaholism,
hyperseductiveness, hyperemotionality, hyperfastidiousness). The fact that many of such patients
also demonstrate deficits above makes diagnosis and treatment selection difficult.
Relationship Therapy
Relationship therapy or Relationship counselling is the process of counselling the parties of a
human relationship in an effort to recognize, and to better manage or reconcile, troublesome
differences and repeating patterns of stress upon the relationship. The relationship involved may
be between members of a family or a couple, employees or employers in a workplace, or
between a professional and a client.
Relationships require work and are bound to face challenges large and small. Simple, everyday
stressors can strain an intimate relationship, and major sources of stress may threaten the stability
of the relationship. As long as each partner is willing to address the issue at hand and participate
in developing a solution, most relationship problems are manageable, but when challenges are
left unaddressed, tension mounts, poor habits develop, and the health and longevity of the
relationship are in jeopardy.
Chronic relationship conflict or stress can contribute to mental health conditions, like depression
or anxiety, for one or both partners. Relationship problems can also affect one’s self-esteem and
physical health or lead to feelings of guilt, shame, or anger. Sometimes addictive behaviours, like
substance abuse, are employed by one or both partners in order to avoid confronting the source
of the relationship conflict. Relationship problems can also adversely affect family members,
such as children, who may repeatedly witness relationship conflict between their parents.
Couple's therapy is a subset of relationship therapy. It may differ from other forms of
relationship counselling in various regards including its duration. Short term counselling may be
between 1 to 3 sessions whereas long term couples therapy may be between 12 and 24 sessions.
Several therapy approaches have been designed for couples in particular, such as Imago

7. Relationship Therapy, but any type of therapy can help with relationship issues. In fact, many
people address their relationship problems through individual therapy, and then they apply that
learning in context with their partners. In addition, family therapy can benefit families whose
children are affected by the tension in their parents’ relationship.
Relationship counsellors are unlikely to take sides or recommend that a couple end their
relationship. Instead, they will allow the therapy process to unfold naturally without a
predetermined goal of “saving” the relationship. Trained therapists help partners by supporting
the goals set by the couple and helping each partner to communicate his or her needs, thoughts,
and emotions more clearly and to listen to the other partner more carefully.
For relationship counselling to significantly help a relationship, each partner should demonstrate
honesty, an interest in doing relationship work, and a willingness to accept personal
accountability.
Flooding therapy
Flooding is a form of behaviour therapy based on the principles of respondent conditioning. It is
sometimes referred to as exposure therapy or prolonged exposure therapy. As a
psychotherapeutic technique, it is used to treat phobia and anxiety disorders including post-
traumatic stress disorder.
It works by exposing the patient to their painful memories, with the goal of reintegrating their
repressed emotions with their current awareness. Flooding was invented by psychologist Thomas
Stampfl in 1967. It is still used in behaviour therapy today.
"Flooding" is an effective form of treatment for phobias amongst other psychopathologies. It
works on the principles of classical conditioning or respondent conditioning, a form of Pavlov's
classical conditioning where patients change their behaviours to avoid negative stimuli.
According to Pavlov, people learn through associations, so if one has a phobia, it is because one
associates the feared stimulus with a negative outcome.
Flooding uses a technique based on Pavlov's classical conditioning that uses exposure. There are
different forms of exposure, such as imaginal exposure, virtual reality exposure, and in vivo
exposure.
Psychiatrist Joseph Wolpe carried out an experiment which demonstrated flooding. He took a
girl who was scared of cars, and drove her around for hours. Initially the girl was hysterical but
she eventually calmed down when she realized that her situation was safe. From then on she
associated a sense of ease with car.
Flooding therapy is not for every individual, and the therapist will discuss with the patient the
levels of anxiety they are prepared to endure during the session.