The Psychoanalytic Lineage

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) created the first systematic theory of the unconscious mind and the first "talking cure." His ideas — the unconscious, transference, defense mechanisms, the centrality of early experience — became the foundation for virtually every subsequent psychotherapy. But psychoanalysis did not remain a single school. Freud's students and their students diverged sharply, producing rival traditions that emphasize different mechanisms of suffering and change. Understanding these branches is essential for any therapist working with psychodynamic concepts.