Dream Analysis and Transference - Essay Example

Melanie Klein also continues with this tradition of psychoanalysis, contributing with her object relations theory. Although she was Freud’s contemporary, her theory was not appreciated by Freudians, an ironic thing because her theory can be considered as more Freudian than Sigmund Freud’s theory.

While the patient’s dynamic was mainly focused on sexual drives for Freudians, Klein insisted on the importance of early life and the fundamental relationship of the baby with the breast. While Klein’s Object Relation’s Theory insists on innate factors as contributing factors to the child’s development, Bowlby focuses on the importance of environmental factors. In his attachment theory, he posited that an attachment behavior refers to a behavior whose design is meant to get young children in protective and close relationships with figures they are attached to, especially when they are anxious.

The instinctual attachment behavior of the child includes a repertoire of following, sucking, clinging, crying, and smiling. According to Bowlby, therefore, various types of attachment include active behavior, adverse behaviors, and signaling behaviors. A good number of great thinkers and writers have dealt with archetypes, of which Carl Jung posits the most advanced and relevant illumination of personality. He suggests that universal forms that channel emotions and experiences exist, resulting in typical and recognizable behavioral patterns that have specific probable outcomes.

Archetypes function to transform and help one’s character and personality, in which, for example, the spiritual archetype exists to reveal the true nature of the individual. The anima acts as a personification in a man’s psyche of al psychological tendencies of a female, such as the attitude towards the unconscious, moods, feelings, feel for nature, ability for personal love, ability to be receptive of the irrational, and intuition. For women, the animus is the counterpart to the men’s anima.

For this reason, it is argued that therapy’s real work involves making conscious what exists in the therapeutic relationship, as well as noting things that are hidden beneath the surface. It is, thus, imperative for an individual to be aware of transference, as well as counter-transference. As a transpersonal therapist, it may be tempting to use clever and creative techniques in dealing with clients, but one’s job, essentially, is to uncover the underlying issues and to name them. While one may have numerous theories and techniques, these will not be useful if there is no true consciousness present in the therapeutic relationship.

Integrative psychotherapy, therefore, should be tailored according to the client’s individual needs, integrating spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical aspects of well-being for the client. This will help in the activation of the patient’s inner healing system, allowing it to grow. Thus, the individual and diverse needs of each patient should inform the chosen therapeutic approach.