What is the difference between psychotherapy and psychoanalysis?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

I heard a doctor described as practicing 'pyschotherapy and also psychoanalysis'.


So what's the difference?

[Commendatori]

1. One is treatment and the other is diagnosis (n/t)

[Bertha Venation]

2. can't answer definitively, but i've had psychotherapy

I think psychoanalysis is what Freud developed/advocated: the laying on a couch, just talking while the "doc" just listens. That wouldn't have helped me at all.

Psychotherapy -- at least the treatment I rec'd -- consisted of my therapist asking me questions to draw out recollections, impressions, pain, hurt, wrongs; she led me to relive horrible things in order to get over them. It's very hard to describe. But she saved my life.

Sorry I can't help more.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. This layman's understanding:

psychoanalysis = Freud-style pyschotherapy

[On the Road]

4. Really? Your Doctor Said "Psychoanalysis"?

Psychotherapy is a general term encompassing many types of counseling. Psychoanalysis is usually associated with Freud's particular brand of psychotherapy. The one in which you realize that you're in love with your parent of the opposite sex and want to murder your parent of the same sex. That sort of thing.

Maybe it's being used differently these days.

[sundog]

5. None

the doctors are all madmen trying to squeeze the human spirit into a box...

[Bertha Venation]

7. not all...

but that impression is surely understandable.

[Hand]

6. Oh, about 50 bucks an hour... nt

[Bertha Venation]

8. LOL

You ain't right, Bunnyman.