A therapeutic approach founded by Sigmund Freud that explores unconscious processes, early experiences, and inner conflicts to understand behavior.
From Greek 'psyche' (soul, mind) + 'analysis' (a loosening, breaking up). Term coined by Freud in the 1890s.
Psychoanalysis is the grandparent of all talk therapy — it digs deep into your unconscious to find the hidden roots of your problems.
Psychoanalysis was developed by male theorists (Freud, Jung) whose frameworks pathologized women's sexuality and psychology. Concepts like hysteria and penis envy embedded gendered assumptions into psychiatric practice.
Use cautiously; acknowledge that historical psychoanalytic theories carried male bias. Prefer 'psychology' or 'therapy' when appropriate.
["psychology","psychotherapy","mental health analysis"]
Women analysts like Melanie Klein, Karen Horney, and Anna Freud challenged Freudian orthodoxy and developed relational theories; their contributions are often marginalized in psychoanalytic canon.
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