Making conscious the unconscious in order to modify unconscious processing: Some mechanisms of therapeutic change

Abstract

This paper examines some of the mechanisms through which interpretation aimed primarily at increasing conscious awareness can nonetheless produce unconscious changes, the latter being deemed the basic aim of psychoanalysis. The concept of valency or motivational weight of the interpretation is proposed to assess which forces of the various motivational systems the interpretation mobilizes (hetero/self-preservation, sensual/sexual, attachment, narcissistic, psychobiological regulation etc.), on which of the above-mentioned systems interpretation relies, and which would oppose therapeutic intervention and why. Certain conditions are also analyzed that could explain the so-called 'change through the analytic relationship', pointing out that, despite the major differences between this form of change and change through interpretation, both of them would share certain mechanisms. This conclusion leads to the need to qualify the idea that interpretation would be exclusively aimed at declarative memory, with no effects upon procedural memory. The paper examines the potential consequences for therapeutic techniques derived from recent findings in neuroscience on so-called labile state memory, and proposes the coupling of experiences as one of the analytical instruments used for therapeutic change. A clinical vignette is included to illustrate some of the theoretical and technical aspects considered.

“The Devil Made Me Do It!” An Inquiry Into the Unconscious “Devils Within” of Rationalized Corruption

“…To deal effectively with corruption, potentially avoiding corruption ourselves or reducing corruption as managers, we need to understand the unconscious motives and needs that rationalizations satisfy. For this to happen, there is a dire management need for an inquiry that makes the unconscious aspects of rationalized corruption more conscious (Bleichmar, 2004;Gabriel & Carr, 2002). Although unconscious psychological processes drive much of our behavior (Bion, 1970;Gabriel, 1999), studies with a strict psychological focus on rationalized corruption appear to be lacking (Agbo & Iwundu, 2016).…”

The New Emerges Out of the Old

“…Interpretations are emotionally charged, here-and-now activities. Bleichmar (2004) highlighted that the memory evoked in the moment is in a labile state and will be restructured, adding elements that were not part of the original circumstances. This, in effect, creates a new memory from the current experience, the latter of which may evolve out of an enactment when the therapist or client realizes and begins to address what has transpired.…”

“…When working within the transference-countertransference matrix and emotions are stirred, responded to, and interpreted, a new experience occurs that is tied to a past experience, and the corresponding memories, the current experience, and the old rest together in such a manner that a reconsolidation of old memories occurs (Bleichmar, 2004). It is not enough for the client to talk about current or old experiences; he or she needs to experience the emotions.…”

¿Son todas las psicoterapias psicoanalíticas iguales?

“…Estos hallazgos demuestran el rol adaptativo de la reconsolidación como una ventana de oportunidad para reescribir memorias emocionales, y sugiere una técnica no invasiva que puede ser usada con seguridad en humanos para prevenir el retorno del miedo". El trabajo de Nature muestra de una manera empírica algo que habíamos planteado como instrumento terapéutico en 2001 y en 2004 en dos publicaciones, una en Aperturas Psicoanalítica bajo el título "El cambio terapéutico a la luz de los conocimientos actuales sobre la memoria y los múltiples procesamientos inconscientes" (Bleichmar, 2001), y la otra en el International Journal of Psychoanalysis (Bleichmar, 2004).…”

“…Enfoque que ha hecho aportes en temas como el de los sueños (De Iceta y Méndez, 2003), los sentimientos de indefensión/ impotencia (Deprati, 2002), la clínica de las relaciones de sumisión y de las modalidades de apego e intimidad (Bleichmar, 1999b(Bleichmar, , 2008, en la aplicación de los conocimientos actuales sobre la memoria a la técnica de psicoterapia (Bleichmar, 2001). Creemos que es, precisamente, en la publicación de artículos originales en revistas internacionales y nacionales, de libros sobre temáticas específicas (Bleichmar, 1981(Bleichmar, , 1986(Bleichmar, , 1997Dio Bleichmar, 1985, 1996, 1998, 1999Méndez e Ingelmo, 2009), en la novedad de las propuestas en psicoterapia reconocidas en congresos internacionales y en revistas que utilizan el sistema de "peer review" -lectura por jueces anónimos-donde el lector mejor podrá evaluar al enfoque "Modular-Transformacional" en psicoterapia y encontrar las diferencias que pudieran existir entre éste y otras orientaciones (Bleichmar, 1996(Bleichmar, , 2003b(Bleichmar, , 2004(Bleichmar, , 2005(Bleichmar, , 2006(Bleichmar, , 2010Dio Bleichmar, 1992, 1995, 2006 1 .…”