Psychoanalysis is the study of the human mind and how we react with daily situations. It can be formally broken down into three ideas:
1. A method of mind investigation. And especially of the unconscious mind;
2. A therapy of neurosis inspired from the above method;
3. A new stand alone discipline who is based on the knowledge acquired from applying the investigation method and clinical experiences. (Jones)
The birth of psychoanalysis is given credit to a man named Sigmund Freud. He is considered the father and main influence on this field of psychology. “Freud lived most of his life in Vienna and died in London in 1939. He discovered psychoanalysis by systematizing ideas and information coming from different, theoretical and clinical directions.” (Jones) His research and ideas paved the way for modern psychotherapy to be used by doctors worldwide.

Psychoanalysis has been used since the 1900’s to treat patients with underlying psychological problems.
• Psychoanalytic psychologists see psychological problems as rooted in the unconscious mind.
• Manifest symptoms are caused by latent (hidden) disturbances.
• Typical causes include unresolved issues during development or repressed trauma.
• Treatment focuses on bringing the repressed conflict to consciousness, where the client can deal with it. (McLeod)

According to Freud, the mind was made up of three egos. The Id, ego, and superego.

“The ego represents ongoing conscious experience or awareness, while the id and superego represent the subconscious, of which we are not aware. The interesting notion about the subconscious, as conceived by the psychoanalysts, is that it controls the vast majority of our behavior. It would follow then, that most of the things we do are controlled by forces of which we are completely unaware. In fact, it is virtually impossible for you or I to become aware of what is