ABSTRACT
One way of ascertaining what is essential in psychoanalytic therapy is to take a bird's-eye view of its historical development and to note the major changes in the technical procedures and in the therapeutic processes. Psychoanalytic technique was not suddenly discovered or invented. It evolved gradually as Freud struggled to find a way of effectively helping his neurotic patients. Although he later disclaimed any enthusiasm for therapy, it was his therapeutic intent which led to the discovery of psychoanalysis. Although Freud had heard the case of Anna O. from Breuer in 1882 and had studied hypnosis with Charcot from October, 1885 to February, 1886, he confined himself to using the conventional therapeutic methods of the time when he first began to practice. The pathogenic ideas had persisted with such freshness and affective strength because they had been denied the normal wearing-away process.
