The Technique of Psychoanalytic Therapy

This article is reproduced in translation a half century after its original presentation by Dr. Horney. It was her first psychoanalytic publication and her first article on psychoanalytic technique. In it we get glimpses of future directions of her thinking and of the spirit of research and investigation which so characterized her life's work——Editor.

The Discussion that followed Dr. Koerber's paper on psychoanalysis, an excellent paper, distinguished particularly by its poignant formulations, brought forth many objections and questions about the practical and therapeutic aspects of psychoanalysis. I, therefore, have assumed the task of delineating to you today the most important points of therapeutic technique. To become acquainted with the method is particularly necessary for the understanding of theory. Statements to the contrary notwithstanding, all psychoanalytic theories in their entirety have grown out of observations and experiences which were made while applying this method. The theories, in turn, later exerted their influence on psychoanalytic practice.

The intimate interrelationship of theory and practice makes it difficult to appreciate and understand one without the other. It also makes my paper hard to write. I cannot possibly present you today with the entire theoretical basis of psychoanalysis and must, therefore, assume that you are familiar with the theories. Hence you may look upon my paper as a supplement to the one presented by Dr. Koerber. In view of the abundance of the material, I have been forced to further limit my presentation. The restriction which you will regret the least is that I shall follow in the main Freud's own views and that I will only briefly mention divergent procedures such as those of the Zurich School. It is unfortunate that in the narrow frame of a paper I can present only scanty case material which might contribute so much to our understanding. I will also have to forego refuting the objections that have been raised agains