
Psychoanalytic approaches to therapy are often viewed as cold. It may summon an image of a therapist sitting there while the patient talks about their childhood then offers their two cents.
Truth is, the psychoanalytic approach has been refined through the years and it is now more helpful than ever before.
What is Modern Psychoanalytic Therapy?
Modern psychoanalytic therapy is talk therapy in which patients explore the unconscious forces that influence their behavior.
The goal of modern psychoanalytic therapy is to help you understand your unconscious thoughts and how they shape who you are. This is done by creating a safe environment for the patient to speak freely.
The idea is that once you have a better idea of your unconscious thoughts, you’ll have a better view of who you are and how to find freedom from maladaptive or destructive behaviors.
The term modern psychoanalytic therapy refers to the continued work of psychoanalysts after the development of Freudian psychoanalysis.

Who Could Benefit From Modern Psychoanalytic Therapy?
This kind of therapy has been proven very helpful for several mental health problems. This includes:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Emotional trauma
- Narcissism
- Schizophrenia
- Repetitive destructive behavior
Whether or not this approach is helpful for you should be a decision between you and your health care providers. When you’re admitted to Sequoia Behavioral Health, you’ll have a conversation with a psychiatrist about what approaches would be best for you.
The Foundation of Psychoanalytic Therapy
Modern psychoanalytic therapy is built on the foundation of traditional psychoanalysis and the works of Sigmund Freud. However, over time therapists began to have a wider view of human psychology and have adapted Freud’s original approach.
What is Psychoanalytic Therapy?
Traditional Psychoanalysis was developed by Freud and his colleagues. It’s a therapeutic application of psychoanalytic theory which is concerned with how personalities are developed. Freud separated personality into three distinct categories:
- Superego: The conscious part of the brain that considers social and moral ramifications of actions
- Id: The unconscious instincts that are typically harmful to self or others, whether that be socially or physically
- Ego: Both the unconscious and conscious part of the brain that acts as a mediator between the id and the superego
Freud theorized that personality developed early in a person's life. Any trauma and frustration suffered during those early years influences the unconscious mind. He emphasized sexual development and stated that sex is the driving force for all human development.

Deviation From Freud
Psychoanalytic theory and therapy have changed quite a bit since Freud developed his theories. Several former colleagues and students have taken Freud’s theories and cultivated variances.
Hyman Spotnitz is understood to be the founder of the modern psychoanalytic movement. During his 1950 studies, he focused his time on developing methods to address the problem of narcissism. However, his methods proved helpful for a wide range of pathologies.
Modern psychoanalytic therapists understand that information is not the cure for mental health problems.
Techniques Used in Modern Psychoanalytic Therapy
During sessions, your therapist will help you understand how your past experiences are influencing your present behavior. Whether that be unconsciously or consciously.
Free-flowing Conversations
Sessions will look like conversations between you and your therapist. Your therapist will be analyzing your reactions and responses, but the modern approach doesn’t interject findings. They’re there to guide towards your own conclusions and goals. In modern sessions, therapists might talk a little bit or not at all. Your preferences will determine how often your therapist talks.
In modern psychoanalytic therapy, you’re the expert. You can talk about whatever you want, and you're encouraged to talk about whatever it is you need to talk about.

Asking Object-Oriented Questions
During sessions, you may find yourself feeling tense. Your anxiety might be building as you talk about a situation or thought and you don’t want to go on. Your therapist might interact with an object-oriented question.
These are used to help you stay grounded as you talk with your therapist. They could be as simple as “What did you eat for breakfast?”. It’s meant to take you away from the stresses of talking about hard things for a long time.
Differences Between Modern Psychoanalytic Therapy and Psychoanalysis
The modern approach to psychoanalytic therapy encourages the analyst to join their client’s reality, not just interpret it. There are other differences as follows.

Emotional Communication
Traditional psychoanalysis essentially stopped once the question of why you feel a certain way was answered. The therapist rarely discussed the next steps with the client.
Modern psychoanalytic therapists understand that information is not the cure for mental health problems. The modern approach has an emphasis on emotional communication. Modern analysts are trying to find the emotion behind the reality.
Who’s The Expert
Traditional psychoanalysis considers the therapist as the expert. They knew how best to interpret their client’s experiences. However, the modern approach places the client in the expert seat.
Modern psychoanalytic therapists are encouraged to join your reality as you talk about your experiences. This is much different from Freudian methods which viewed the therapist as only an analyst.
Narcissistic Transference
Hyman Spotnitz helped show the world that all mental health conditions could be helped. Freud didn’t believe people with schizophrenia or narcissism could be helped with psychoanalysis.
One of the ideas Spotnitz developed was the idea of narcissistic transference. In essence, it’s when a patient begins to relate to the therapist as if the therapist was part of their mind. Therapists try to grow their relationship with their patients by not challenging their thoughts at first and allowing the patient to speak aggressively without repercussion.
It’s a good thing when you like your therapist. It’s even better when you realize you can freely talk to them without fear of punishment. From this point in the relationship, working through harder topics becomes easier.
The modern approach to psychoanalytic therapy encourages the analyst to join their client’s reality, not just interpret it.
Less About Sex
Many people have criticized Freud’s emphasis on sex, and especially his ideas on the Oedipus complex and penis envy. According to Freud’s psychosexual theory, the driving force of human development is sexual energy. According to Freudian psychoanalysis, the personality is developed through several stages, each defined by an erogenous zone.
Modern psychoanalytic therapy deemphasizes this approach and focuses more on the social environment during developmental stages.
Frequency of Sessions
Traditional psychoanalytic therapy sessions occur three to five times a week. For most people that’s a hard schedule to maintain. Not to mention the emotional difficulties of attending that many sessions.
Modern psychoanalytic therapy sessions are as frequent or infrequent as they are needed.
Similarities Between Modern Psychoanalytic Therapy and Psychoanalysis
Modern psychoanalysis is a reformed version of Freudian psychoanalysis. Naturally, it keeps what made the traditional approach helpful. Here are some of the things that stayed.
The Importance of Unconsciousness
Modern psychoanalytic therapy keeps the importance of unconscious thoughts found in classical psychoanalysis. The theory supposes that all human behavior is unconsciously motivated. The therapeutic application is focused on finding those motivations and working through them.
Transference, CounterTransference, and Resistance
Because modern psychoanalytic therapy is focused on the relationship between the analysand (patient) and the analyst (therapist), these categories are still used today. These concepts were developed by Freud and Breuer to help explain how therapists and patients relate during sessions.
- Transference explains how a patient unknowingly transfers emotions or thoughts from previous experiences onto the therapist
- CounterTransference describes ways the therapist unknowingly transfers emotions or thoughts from previous experiences onto the client. It’s paramount that the analyst keeps these thoughts in check.
- Resistance defines the natural unconscious resistance most clients have against psychotherapeutic efforts. Many people often feel anxiety while unearthing troubling memories.
Psychoanalytic therapies, classical and modern use these categories. They’re helpful ways to understand the unconscious tendencies that encumber therapeutic efforts.

Modern Psychoanalytic Therapy at Sequoia Behavioral Health
You are you because of your conscious and unconscious thoughts. If you’re going to find freedom from repetitive destructive behaviors it’s going to take a whole body approach.
At Sequoia Behavioral Health we believe in a holistic treatment approach. We care about your thoughts and feelings and your physical well being. That’s why we offer several forms of treatment to create a plan that’s just for you. Contact us to learn how Sequoia Behavioral Health can help you in your mental health journey.