Psychoanalytic therapy
Involves analyzing root causes of behavior by exploring and analyzing the unconscious mind and the conscious mind’s relation to behavior. Today’s theories and therapies are extensions and extrapolations of the work of Sigmund Freud and use multiple strategies to help the individual understand the function of his or her mind. However, modern approaches to psychoanalytic therapy still share the common ground of unconscious motivation, a particular focus centered on in-depth personality exploration and change.
Psychoanalytic therapy does not always have to be grounded entirely in Freud’s work, as many therapists consider themselves students of theorists like Jung or Alfred Adler. Effective analysts approach their work with the expectation of learning from their patients by discovering unconscious thoughts and feelings that may affect conscious behavior and, in our case, contribute to substance abuse and addiction.