Psychoanalysis: FSA Eligibility

What is psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis is rooted in the notion that individuals are often unaware of some or all of the factors that determine their emotional wellbeing and mental health. Psychoanalysis is the process of deducing what these factors might be, and recognizing how they are affecting current troubles, difficulties in relationships, and assessing how they may have changed over an individual's lifetime. All of these efforts are made in order to help the individual live a healthier, happier and more successful life.

A psychoanalyst who practices psychoanalysis is not regulated by any legal regulations or federal law. Psychoanalysts may provide other credentials, such as endorsement by the American Psychoanalysis Association, or training and certification in psychoanalysis from an otherwise reputable university or institution. But none of that verification or assurances are required by either the patient or practitioner in order to legally undergo psychoanalysis treatment (Psychology Today).

Psychoanalysis normally consists of a patient visiting a psychoanalyst's office four or five times per week and sharing all that is on their mind while the psychoanalyst listens. The psychoanalyst listens in for patterns to emerge from listening to a relatively large volume of unfiltered thoughts, and then comments to the patient on the themes noticed up to that the point. Conversations which includes corrections, rejections, and refinements will then emerge between the psychoanalyst and the patient, who then continue unfiltered sharing and listening. The psychoanalyst aims to eventually developed a refined understanding of the unknown or unconscious factors affecting their patient's behaviors and emotions, which when accurately conveyed to the patient in terms of both origin and impact, allow the patient to consciously and mindfully navigate their life to achieve a desired outcome, i.e. fewer arguments with a spouse, shorter bouts of depression, etc.