Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory Application
Grand Canyon University CNL -
500
Introduction:
Ana, a 24-year-old female who is a single parent, is unemployed at the moment and faces
homelessness. She requires therapy for her depression and anxiety. Freud's psychoanalytic
theory can be used to understand Ana's circumstances. This essay will analyze Freud's
psychoanalytic theory to look at treatment methods, clients' social and cultural demands,
counseling goals, intervention strategies, and essential insights into psychoanalysis and the use
of Freudian approaches in psychotherapy.
Psychoanalysis offers profound emotional transformation and growth in addition to
bringing hidden tensions to the surface (Murdock, 2017). Ana displays signs of depression and
anxiety, as is evident in her case. Despite their existence, these symptoms are not the root of
the issue. Psychoanalytic theory states that these symptoms are expressions of the unconscious
problems Ana is repressing. Therefore, to apply the essential element of free association, the
intervention strategies would be to first identify the internal problems that are causing these
symptoms, then "promote client integration," and finally, by examining Ana's past and learning
how it impacts her present, determine which obstacles stand in the way of her progress
(Murdock, 2017).
Process of treatment:
There have been prior descriptions of a four-stage therapeutic method (Murdock, 2017).
The opening phase, transference growth, working through, and resolving transference are the
four steps of the process (Murdock, 2017). Ana is eager to pay for eight treatment sessions by
, using her insurance company to cover service fees. The therapist needs to remember that the
client is currently unemployed and might not be able to pay for the eight sessions. The first step
in Ana's therapy is building a relationship during the initial phase. She claims to be worried and
depressed and to have never attended counseling. She made little eye contact as she told her
narrative. To progressively examine Ana's problems and distinctive defenses, the therapist
must watch and listen to her (Murdock, 2017). Transference is developed in the second phase
(Murdock, 2017). As Ana continues to tell her narrative, she will eventually be able to
comprehend the cause of her present emotions and conduct. At this point in the process, the
therapist will play a crucial role in helping her express her feelings. Beginning with relatively
benign surface observations, the therapist examines and interprets these encounters with the
client before moving on to interpretations that incorporate deep unconscious content (Murdock,
2017). The third step is to work through. As the treatment goes on, Ana and the therapist will
analyze her unconscious conflicts to better understand the causes of her present problems. At the
end of therapy, the therapist determines that Ana has gained understanding and the capacity to
deal with her problems, and he or she can schedule the end of treatment (Murdock, 2017). In
addition to actively trying to grasp the meaning of the client's communications, a counselor's
duty during treatment is to listen to the client's history with sympathetic curiosity,
acceptance, and a lack of judgment (Auld, Hyman, Rudsinsky, 2005).
Grand Canyon University CNL -
500
Introduction:
Ana, a 24-year-old female who is a single parent, is unemployed at the moment and faces
homelessness. She requires therapy for her depression and anxiety. Freud's psychoanalytic
theory can be used to understand Ana's circumstances. This essay will analyze Freud's
psychoanalytic theory to look at treatment methods, clients' social and cultural demands,
counseling goals, intervention strategies, and essential insights into psychoanalysis and the use
of Freudian approaches in psychotherapy.
Psychoanalysis offers profound emotional transformation and growth in addition to
bringing hidden tensions to the surface (Murdock, 2017). Ana displays signs of depression and
anxiety, as is evident in her case. Despite their existence, these symptoms are not the root of
the issue. Psychoanalytic theory states that these symptoms are expressions of the unconscious
problems Ana is repressing. Therefore, to apply the essential element of free association, the
intervention strategies would be to first identify the internal problems that are causing these
symptoms, then "promote client integration," and finally, by examining Ana's past and learning
how it impacts her present, determine which obstacles stand in the way of her progress
(Murdock, 2017).
Process of treatment:
There have been prior descriptions of a four-stage therapeutic method (Murdock, 2017).
The opening phase, transference growth, working through, and resolving transference are the
four steps of the process (Murdock, 2017). Ana is eager to pay for eight treatment sessions by
, using her insurance company to cover service fees. The therapist needs to remember that the
client is currently unemployed and might not be able to pay for the eight sessions. The first step
in Ana's therapy is building a relationship during the initial phase. She claims to be worried and
depressed and to have never attended counseling. She made little eye contact as she told her
narrative. To progressively examine Ana's problems and distinctive defenses, the therapist
must watch and listen to her (Murdock, 2017). Transference is developed in the second phase
(Murdock, 2017). As Ana continues to tell her narrative, she will eventually be able to
comprehend the cause of her present emotions and conduct. At this point in the process, the
therapist will play a crucial role in helping her express her feelings. Beginning with relatively
benign surface observations, the therapist examines and interprets these encounters with the
client before moving on to interpretations that incorporate deep unconscious content (Murdock,
2017). The third step is to work through. As the treatment goes on, Ana and the therapist will
analyze her unconscious conflicts to better understand the causes of her present problems. At the
end of therapy, the therapist determines that Ana has gained understanding and the capacity to
deal with her problems, and he or she can schedule the end of treatment (Murdock, 2017). In
addition to actively trying to grasp the meaning of the client's communications, a counselor's
duty during treatment is to listen to the client's history with sympathetic curiosity,
acceptance, and a lack of judgment (Auld, Hyman, Rudsinsky, 2005).
