Evaluate The Extent To Which Freud’s Theory o

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Abstract: “Evaluate the extent to which Freud’s theory of psychosexual development can help us to understand a client’s presenting issue”. Introduction: I will describe Freud’s theory and demonstrate an understanding of its relationship to adult neurotic behaviour. I will evaluate them through the criticisms from others. I will end the essay by summarising what I found and include how I personally feel about Freud. Introduction and Background to Freud: Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis. Before Freud, people with mental health issues were put into asylums where their treatment was often barbaric using hot and cold baths, straight jackets and medication. Even brain surgery was used resulting in death. In 1885 Freud went to France to study hysteria with Jean-Martin Charcot. At that time it was believed that there was no cure. However, Freud witnessed the ability that hypnosis had for the patient to become aware of their thoughts, feelings and fantasies as well as issues they were not consciously aware of. This initiated Freud going to work with Joseph Breuer a Viennese physiologist who was also researching hysteria. Breuer had been working with a lady called Anna O using a revolutionary new treatment that she herself coined the ‘talking treatment’. Breuer found that by getting Anna to recall, relive and talk out any early trauma that she made vast improvements in her condition. In 1886 inspired by Charcot and Breuer’s work, Freud opened his own clinic starting to treat people with hysteria and other mental illness. He experimented using a variety of treatments including electrotherapy and hypnosis but was disappointed with the results as he felt they were not long lasting. He was also cautious about patients suggestibility so decided to develop Breuer’s technique
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