Analytic psychotherapy, also called psychoanalytic psychotherapy, is a form of therapy based on the principles of psychoanalysis, usually with fewer sessions per week and face to face. It assumes that part of our suffering comes from conflicts, wishes and fears we are not fully aware of.
The analytic therapist offers a stable, reliable space where you can slowly explore your inner world: dreams, memories, feelings and even slips of the tongue. The work is usually deep and long-term, aiming more at change in personality and relationships than at quickly removing one symptom.
Something else may fit better if…
The basis is "free association": you say whatever comes to mind without censoring or tidying it. The therapist listens carefully and sometimes offers an interpretation, a link between what you say and a meaning that may lie behind it.
"Transference" plays a central role. Feelings and expectations left over from earlier relationships carry over into the relationship with the therapist. The therapist attends to these, and to their own reactions in the session, and uses them to understand you better.
A stable frame, meaning a fixed time, fixed session length and clear rules, is itself part of the treatment. It creates a safe space in which difficult themes can emerge gradually and at a safe pace.
Online sessions usually last 45 to 50 minutes and often take place once or twice a week at a fixed time. The therapist usually speaks less and gives you more room, which may feel unusual at first.
This therapy is usually long-term and may continue from one to several years. Change is often slow and shows mostly in how you relate to yourself and others.
Examples are fictional and illustrative.
Kaveh kept dreaming he was lost in an airport. Talking about the dream in sessions led him to the sense of rootlessness after moving to the Netherlands, and to frequent moves in childhood. This exploration helped him understand why nowhere felt like home and to slowly build roots for himself.
Shima sometimes felt hurt when her therapist ended sessions on time. By talking about it, she realised it was the same feeling of rejection she had as a child with a very busy mother. This understanding helped her feel less afraid of being abandoned in her relationships.
Bahram had everything but felt his life had no meaning. In long-term therapy he slowly reconnected with wishes he had set aside to please others. He says his choices now feel more like his own.
These therapists list this on their profile. All sessions are online and in Persian.
No. Analytic psychotherapy is usually face to face, and online you simply sit comfortably in front of the camera.
The therapist's quiet creates room for your thoughts and feelings to emerge. If the silence feels hard, saying so can itself be a useful topic for the session.
It is usually long-term and may continue for a year or more. Your therapist will talk with you about the process and expectations, and the ending is usually planned together.
Talk with your therapist about it so that more support can be arranged if needed. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact local emergency services.
This page is general information and does not replace a professional assessment. If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency services. Urgent help
