Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis have similar roots. They both derive from a long tradition of different healing practices and philosophies, and they both have their uses. But, historically, psychotherapy has been used as a way to “teach” people to behave in more “normal” ways, and takes the approach of removing symptoms to replace them with other “appropriate” behaviors. This is certainly useful in many, many instances. Disordered eating behaviors can lead to long-term physical health problems, frequently yelling at a romantic partner might cause them to leave, and panic attacks can make it more difficult to go to work, to give just a few examples.

An unintended effect of this “behavior teaching” approach, however, is an emphasis on normality and conformity, with the therapist acting as a sort of “ideal,” and a corresponding de-emphasis on what makes an individual an individual. While psychotherapy asks “how can we integrate this person into what is normal?”, psychoanalysis asks “why should we integrate this person into what is normal?”.

This creates a different aim for psychoanalysis versus psychotherapy: to create a space for curiosity about one’s desires, identities, beliefs—anything and everything else about oneself. While psychoanalysis does alleviate symptoms and suffering, it also goes further than that, altering the relationship between oneself and their symptoms and suffering.