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psychoanalytic

Other forms: psychoanalytically

When you're describing a type of long-term therapy that focuses on the unconscious mind, use the adjective psychoanalytic.

The original psychoanalytic practitioner was Sigmund Freud, who developed the theory known as psychoanalysis in the 1890s. A therapist who uses psychoanalytic methods might help you interpret your dreams and explore forgotten childhood events in order to find the unconscious source of your anxious feelings. Psychoanalytic theory is employed outside of psychology, too — it's been used to analyze things like literature and art. Psychoanalytic is rooted in the Greek psykhē, "the soul, mind, or spirit."

Definitions of psychoanalytic
  1. adjective
    of or relating to or incorporating the methods and theory of psychiatric treatment originated by Sigmund Freud
    psychoanalytic treatment”
    synonyms: psychoanalytical
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