Reading
Essential Texts on Psychoanalytic Practice
The Freudian Psychoanalytic Method (1904)
By Sigmund Freud
Short essay explaining the move from catharsis and hypnosis to free association and interpretation.
On Psychotherapy (1905)
By Sigmund Freud
This paper is significant because it serves as Freud’s defence of psychotherapy as a legitimate medical intervention, rather than just "talk" or "suggestion".
Wild Psychoanalysis (1910)
By Sigmund Freud
This work was a defensive response to the growing popularity of his theories, which were being increasingly misinterpreted and misapplied by physicians who had not undergone formal training.
Recommendations to the Doctor in Psychoanalytic Treatment (1912)
By Sigmund Freud
This technical paper lays out the fundamental rules for the analyst.
The Dynamics of Transference (1912)
By Sigmund Freud
A foundational text in psychoanalytic technique focusing on what happens in the relationship between analyst and patient.
On Beginning the Treatment (1913)
By Sigmund Freud
One of Freud’s fundamental technical papers where psychoanalysis is turned into a structured method.
Fausse Reconnaissance (Deja raconte?) in Psychoanalytic Treatment (1914)
By Sigmund Freud
A paper that explores a specific clinical phenomenon where a patient insists they have already shared a particular memory or thought with the analyst, despite the analyst having no record of it.
Remembering, Repeating and Working Through (1914)
By Sigmund Freud
A core technical paper explaining what actually happens when patients don’t remember. It's central to understanding the repeating acts until it is worked through.
On the History of the Psychoanalytic Movement (1914)
By Sigmund Freud
It traces the origins and development of psychoanalysis, highlighting its key concepts, early contributors, and the disagreements that shaped the movement. Written by Freud, it offers a valuable insight into the history of psychoanalytic thought.
Observations on Transference-Love (1915)
By Sigmund Freud
Freud addresses one of the most delicate challenges in psychoanalysis: when a patient falls in love with their analyst. This paper was written to correct serious clinical mistakes.
Mourning and Melancholia (1917 [1915])
By Sigmund Freud
This paper explores the psychological differences between normal grief and depression. Freud examines how loss affects the mind and how unresolved mourning can lead to deep emotional suffering.
Lines of Advance in Psychoanalytic Therapy (1918)
By Sigmund Freud
This paper is famous for its transition from "pure" clinical theory to a broader social and technical vision. Written after 20+ years of clinical work, Freud proposed modified techniques for wider social use.
Analysis Terminable and Interminable (1937)
By Sigmund Freud
After decades of practice, Freud reflects on why some analyses reach a satisfying conclusion while others seem to go on forever or fail to prevent future relapses.
Constructions in Analysis (1937)
By Sigmund Freud
A late technical paper where Freud revises the idea that analysis is mainly about remembering exact past events. The paper introduces construction as a core analytic operation.