Since Freud, the couch has been regarded as an essential component of psychoanalysis. Freud’s emphasis on using a coach in psychoanalysis could be interpreted in two ways (Skolnick, 2019). Firstly, the couch is a relic of hypnosis, once used to treat psychological disorders. Secondly, the couch is a ceremonial object, full of cultural meanings associated with the recumbent position, such as physical intimacy, sleep, birth, death, illness, recovery, reading, and tranquility, all of which may be generated by the use of the couch in psychoanalytic treatment.
Essentially, Freud outlines reasons for using a coach for both the patient and the analyst. According to Redekop et al. (2017), the psychoanalytic tradition presents a complex analysis of human behavior and attitude; it discusses a situation in which humans are motivated by unconscious wants and desires. In theory, the couch is used by the patient to promote regression and remove defensive systems, allowing free association and the restoration of dreams and memories. Hence, patients frequently close their eyes while lying down to support the concentration on internal feelings. The primary reason for using the couch for the analyst is to mitigate the uncomfortable feelings ‘of being stared at,’ which can interfere with the analyst’s ability to unlock the patient’s subconscious mind.
Therefore, to optimize my therapy, I will place a couch in the office and create a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere for patients. For instance, I will choose dim lighting because it appears to work well for most people (Mind Shaped Box, 2011). Dim lighting in the counseling room increased the time patients spoke about themselves compared to bright lighting; and enhanced reported feelings of security, coziness, and relaxation (Mind Shaped Box, 2011). Moreover, I will use decorations, such as paintings and flowers, to make patients feel at home. The home-like decor will relax the clients and encourage them to share their thoughts more easily.
References
Mind Shaped Box. (2011). Counselor’s office design – the effects on client’s self-disclosure and impressions of a counselor. Web.
Redekop, F., Luke, C., & Malone, F. (2017). From the couch to the chair: Applying psychoanalytic theory and practice in counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 95, 100-109. Web.
Skolnick, N. J. (2019). Review of on the couch: A repressed history of the analytic couch from Plato to Freud, by Nathan Kravis. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 2017. 224 pp. Contemporary Psychoanalysis, 55(1–2), 116–121. Web.