ABOUT THERAPY
"That is life: it turns warm, and then cools down,
it grasps, and then it lets go,
it goes quiet, and then unsettles.
What it asks of us is courage."
Guimarães Rosa
Gonçalo Ivo
Why start therapy?
People seek therapy for a number of reasons. They frequently are going through some kind of pain or difficulty from which they want to be free, but they have no idea how to do this on their own
What is your line of work?
Freudian Psychoanalysis is the main theoretical basis of my clinical practice. According to Freud, the symptoms that an individual experiences almost always have unconscious roots, which becomes visible through the repetitive patterns of thoughts and behaviors he or she goes though. This particular focus on unconscious processes and how they affect human actions is the main differential of psychoanalysis when compared to other psychological theories and therapies.
How does therapy work?
In the sessions, a special bond is created between therapist and patient and, in the context of this relationship, the patient speaks, listens and, with the therapist's help, has a chance of creating new meaning, and may reposition him or herself, perhaps coming to find a fuller and less tormented way of living life.
Why did you choose to work with this theoretical line?
I chose Psychoanalysis mainly because it is a non-conformative practice, that is, it does not seek to fit people into some specific social norm or model. There is no intention to show the patient the best, or the right way to live. This is what is called 'the ethics of psychoanalysis': each person is unique, singular and one must work with each one so that each finds their own way of elaborating and transforming the position towards their own life .
Do you use other theoretical references in your work?
My clinical practice is based on psychoanalytic ethics and theory, but the construction of this practice and my professional trajectory has also been influenced by other fields of knowledge that have Difference as a core concept: Intercultural Communication, Deinstitutionalization of mental illness studies, Critical Theory of Racism, Studies of Sexuality and Gender, Feminist Theories, Post-colonialists, among others.
