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Observations made during the therapeutic procedure are the primary source of psychoanalytic knowledge. Most of our knowledge of psychodynamics stems from this source. Precise understanding of the therapeutic factors is significant both for improving our therapeutic techniques and also for increasing our theoretical knowledge. Between theory and therapy there is a reciprocal relationship: observations made during treatment are the main source of our theoretical knowledge, and we apply our theoretical formulations to improve our technique.
This presentation is based on the premise that much in our therapeutic procedure is still empirical, and that many of the processes which take place in patients during psychoanalysis are not yet fully understood.
In particular, there is divergence of opinion concerning 1, the relative therapeutic value of the patient's intellectual insight into the origin and nature of his neurosis; 2, the relative value of emotional discharge (abreaction); 3, the role of emotional experiences during treatment as they evolve in the transference; 4, the role of parallel experiences in life; 5, the significance of the time factor (frequency of interviews, technical interruptions, length of the treatment). The last question is practical and the answer to it depends both on clinical experience and on the clarification of the first four.