Question

A nurse is teaching a client who has an anxiety disorder and is scheduled to begin classical psychoanalysis. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of this form of therapy?

A. Even if my anxiety improves, I will need to continue this therapy for 6 weeks.
B. The therapist will focus on my past relationships during our sessions.
C. Psychoanalysis will help me reduce my anxiety by changing my behaviors.
D. This therapy will address my conscious feelings about stressful experiences.

Answer 1

The correct understanding of classical psychoanalysis therapy is that it involves the therapist focusing on the patient's past relationships to uncover how early experiences affect current behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation:

In classical psychoanalysis, a client's understanding of the therapy method is rooted in its foundational principles according to Sigmund Freud. Freud's psychoanalytic theory focuses on the unconscious mind and believes that addressing unresolved conflicts from the past, particularly those from childhood, is essential in the treatment of neuroses and disorders such as anxiety. Therefore, the statement that indicates an understanding of this form of therapy would be, "The therapist will focus on my past relationships during our sessions." This reflects a central tenet of psychoanalysis, which seeks to uncover and understand the buried psychological influences of early childhood experiences and their impact on present behaviors and mental health.