Exploring the unconscious through words and images

Lacanian Psychotherapy and Art Criticism, by Shima Gholamrezaei

Shima Gholamrezaei is a clinical psychologist, psychoanalytic psychotherapist, essayist, and art curator currently living in Toronto, Canada. She has been active in the field of Freudian-Lacanian psychoanalysis for nearly a decade.

Not-All the Body and Impersonality in Women’s Body Art: A Lacanian Reading

About Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud, is a distinctive method for treating mental suffering and offers a profound framework for understanding humanity and the world around us. It has found applications in cultural studies, literature, film, art theory, and extends its influence into philosophy, medicine, and neuroscience. Psychoanalysts are among the most highly trained and qualified clinicians, specializing in talk therapy for those seeking psychological support. With a rich history and deep-rooted tradition, psychoanalysis has made significant contributions both in Iran and globally.

UNCONSCIOUS

At the core of psychoanalysis lies the concept of the Unconscious. Freud first formulated and developed the idea that the psychological distress he observed in his patients stemmed from forgotten or repressed experiences from their past. These experiences, hidden from their conscious awareness, had a profound impact on their mental well-being. Through the therapeutic process he pioneered, the patient was guided to bring these repressed memories into consciousness, confront them both intellectually and emotionally, and by doing so, release the emotional charge associated with them. This process allowed the individual to alleviate the underlying psychological causes of their symptoms. In essence, the unconscious is the driving force behind the formation of psychological symptoms.