The Importance of Long-Form Talking in Psychoanalysis

In the realms of psychoanalysis, long-form talking is not just a therapeutic exercise; it is a necessity for resolving resistances and facilitating meaningful therapeutic breakthroughs. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, emphasized the significance of this approach, famously stating, "At other points there is a stoppage and the patient hesitates before bringing out an association, and, if so, we often have to listen to a long chain of ideas before receiving anything that helps us to understand..." (Lanksy, 1992, p.38).

Understanding Resistances

WHAT ARE RESISTANCES?

In psychoanalysis, resistances are unconscious barriers that an underlying psychological force puts up to prevent the expression of certain thoughts, feelings, or memories. These resistances can manifest as hesitation, silence, forgetting ideas, changing the topic during therapy sessions, or even not showing up to the session at all.

WHY DO THEY HAPPEN?

Resistances occur because the mind has developed defense mechanisms to protect itself from distressing emotions and experiences. While these mechanisms can provide temporary relief, they also impede the therapeutic process by hiding the root causes of psychological issues.

The Role of Long-Form Talking

WHY TALKING MATTERS

For resistance to be resolved, the patient needs to engage in long-form talking in the presence of the psychoanalyst. This means speaking freely and at length, even when it feels difficult or uncomfortable. The act of talking in front of the analyst provides the environment for resistances to emerge. Meanwhile, talking in long succession allows the analyst the opportunity needed to observe and address the underlying conflicts.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Free Associations:
   Throughout psychoanalysis, uncensored 'free association' is encouraged as a style of talking. This is where the therapist listens carefully to the long chains of the patient’s ideas and associations. Patients are asked to say whatever comes to mind, without suppression or judgment.

2. Manifesting Resistances:
   As the patient attempts to talk before the analyst, resistances begin to manifest. Patients may find it challenging to talk openly. There may be frequent pauses, hesitations, and moments of holding back. The therapist then notices patterns and themes that shut down the free association process.

3. Addressing Hesitations:
   When you notice hesitations or changes in topic, they often hold clues to underlying resistances. The therapist may guide the patient back and explore these moments or the therapist may choose to observe the clues to resistances without addressing them until they develop further in nature.

4. Achieving Breakthroughs:
   With persistent talking, breakthroughs can occur. These developments happen when the patient and analyst resolve the forces that conflict with the person expressing their truest thoughts and feelings. While sometimes breakthroughs can happen faster than expected, the expectation should be that long-form talking is necessary for meaningful progress to solidify.

Benefits of Resolving Resistances

When resistances are resolved, patients often experience significant benefits:

• Maturational Growth: By confronting and processing repressed emotions, patients can achieve personal growth and emotional maturity with greater psychological resilience.

• Resolved Psychodynamics: Resolving resistances can lead to a reduction in conflictual psychodynamics that dysregulate a person.

• Expansion and Discovery: Patients enter a discovery zone when they resolve resistances, leading to progressive expansion of the self. The patient can consider more options and opportunities for ones self in this zone.

Conclusion

While the path to resolving resistances in psychoanalysis can be long and arduous, it is essential for achieving meaningful and lasting therapeutic progress. Patients must be encouraged to talk extensively, allowing the analyst to gain deep insights into their unconscious minds. If you are considering psychoanalysis, remember that your willingness to talk, uninterrupted, about what resides in your mind is a crucial part of the healing process.

References

Lansky, M. (1992). Essential Papers on Dreams. NYU Press.

Psychoanalytic Informed books on Resolving Resistances and Free Association

Langs, R. (1990). Classics in psycho-analytic technique. J. Aronson.

Reik, T. (1949). Listening with the third ear. Farrar, Straus.

‌‌Strean, H. S. (1985). Resolving resistances in psychotherapy. Wiley.