Jul 2, 2017 · Even today, when people think of seeing a psychoanalyst or psychiatrist, they may have a mental image of a patient lying down on a couch with a thoughtful therapist sitting beside or behind them with a notebook in hand.

Nov 8, 2017 · Although newer forms of therapy eschew the couch, this is the classic arrangement of a psychoanalyst's office, established by Sigmund Freud: the analyst sits in a chair out of sight while the patient lies on a couch facing away.

Oct 20, 2017 · If patients or their therapists find that a patient is holding back honest thoughts, if they feel stuck, or if they are seeking to unlock unconscious motivations, perhaps lying back on the...

Oct 4, 2023 · When it comes to therapy, the choice between sitting upright in a chair or lying down on a couch may seem inconsequential. However, there is actually a psychological reasoning behind why lying down is more relaxing and conducive to therapy. One reason lies in the physical aspect of lying down.

Apr 3, 2014 · So the use of the couch helps both patient and analyst to unwind, to let thoughts wander, to gain access to the unconscious mind where deeper contact and understanding can be found.

Jul 18, 2023 · Circling back to Freud, perhaps lying on the couch during analysis helped his clients to be less angry and defensive in response to upsetting memories and thoughts. Because of these encouraging...

So lying down in a therapy session is a sure-fire way to access some provocative thoughts and feelings, which can be clues for the therapist about how to be helpful to the patient. When you see a cartoon about psychoanalysis, notice where the cartoonist places the chair of the therapist.

Mar 2, 2016 · The question "Why did people use to lie down at a psychoanalyst" prompted several responses from counsellors and clinical psychologists.

Apr 4, 2023 · It was as a young trainee that Sigmund Freud, the originator of psychotherapy, first observed patients lying back on a couch. He had been studying hypnosis, a controversial treatment for mental disorders which involved the patient entering a relaxed state while the doctor made suggestions to them.

Apr 17, 2024 · Most (I mean most) contemporary practitioners favor a relaxed, relational set up in the room -- two chairs facing one another, or a chair facing a couch. If there is a couch in the room, you can certainly ask to lie down and not make eye contact and just "free associate."