psychoanalysis

/ˌˈsaɪkoʊəˌnæləsəs/

/saɪkəʊəˈnælɪsɪs/

Psychoanalysis is a type of long-term therapy that explores the origins of a patient's mental state.

When most people think of psychoanalysis they think of Sigmund Freud, who first developed it at the end of the 19th century. It's a type of psychotherapy that uses stories from childhood, dreams, free association, and other techniques to get at a person's subconscious, or the thoughts and fears hidden deep inside the mind. Psychoanalysis is sometimes described as "talk therapy." The word is rooted in the Greek psychē, or "soul."

Definitions of psychoanalysis

1. noun

   a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud
   “his physician recommended psychoanalysis”

   synonyms: analysis, depth psychology

   types:

   hypnoanalysis

   the use of hypnosis in conjunction with psychoanalysis

   type of:

   psychotherapy

   the treatment of mental or emotional problems by psychological means