Posted by lucy stone on August 18, 2004, at 23:05:14
In reply to Therapy / Analysis - whats the difference?, posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 10:52:11
I am doing an analysis, I go 4 times a week and lie on a couch. In my case the major difference between therapy and analysis is frequency and intensity. I did 9 months of therapy with my analyst before I moved into a full analysis. I am currently in my 4th year. The couch is a useful tool that allows me to focus totally on my thoughts. I am not distracted by trying to read his expression or body language, all I have is his voice coming from behind my head. What happens basically is that I talk a lot, I suppose it's free association but we never use that term. I talk about my life, my feelings for him, my feelings for others in my life, the way I approach things that happen in my life, my past life, my current life, my parents, just every thing really. He talks a lot, he's not silent like analysts were in the old days. He gives me interpretations, which are his insights into why I think and act the way I do. An analysis is more about an exploration of yourself that a way to solve specific problems. It is supposed to free you from your old conflicts and ways of thinking. It has definately helped me, during my analysis I have stopped an addiction and an eating disorder or 20 years duration. I can enjoy sex with my husband for the first time in our 29 years of marriage, and I don't rage at my children. I always have enough time to talk about everything I need to, I don't need to make lists or prioritize what I want to talk about. If one session doesn't go well there is always another and another. I can tell him anything and have opened him to my deepest and darkest secrets. It is profound to have someone know the worst things about you and still be met with understanding and respect. It is very expensive and takes up lots of time, but to me it is worth it.
poster:lucy stone
thread:378655
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040812/msgs/379318.html