Lives of the Unconscious. A Podcast on Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
This podcast explores topics in psychotherapy, contemporary psychoanalysis, and psychodynamic therapy methods, along with social issues. New episodes are released every Friday, with recommended readings provided for each episode. The show is hosted by Cécile Loetz and Jakob Mueller.
Episodes
Episode 37: Male Perversion and Sexual Violence
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From catcalling and unsolicited “dick pics” to upskirting and other forms of sexual assault—sexualized violence is omnipresent, especially on social media, and is often perpetrated by men. Research also shows that other forms of sexualized violence frequently, though by no means exclusively, originat
Episode 36. What poverty does tu us. And what it has to do with our history.
We are back with a new episode!
"Behind what is referred to in psychoanalysis as fate neurosis or repetition compulsion often lurks the uncanny magnetism of one's own social class"
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Script to this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/116944972
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Episode 35. Envy. A hidden force within human relations
Envy can arise wherever there exists inequality between people: in societies and families, between siblings, genders, and generations. “Envy is the tax which all distinction must pay” (R.W. Emerson). Envy has a bad reputation, at times even considered taboo, and yet still it proves to be ever-present. This episode explores the psychoanalytic understanding of envy and its implications for society a
Episode 34. Dissociative Identity Disorder - Secret Lives
The idea of split personality is fertile ground for stories of great imagination—while regrettably also inspiring and perpetuating numerous misunderstandings that continue to cling to the kind of personality organization that we will take up in this episode.
*there is a small cultural variation in the episode. We use the German abbreviation "DIS" for Dissociative Identity Disorder. In English, ho
Episode 33.The Phantom of Emptiness. On the Psychodynamics of White Depression.
In contrast to “black depression,” white depression denotes an often inconspicuous, insidious affliction that can last a lifetime. Its distinguishing quality is a feeling of meaninglessness and emptiness that is nearly impossible to grasp, even if everything in life actually appears to be working out and there is reason to be joyful. As if, despite all efforts, it was simply impossible to truly be
Episode 32.The Pseudo-Community. Or: The Family behind the Rubber Fence
“You’re free to do anything you want! But this man, of all people—you’ll never be happy with him.” Or: “Of course, if you don’t have time, you don’t have to come to the birthday dinner. But Uncle Henry will be very sad if you don’t. He was asking about you.” Or: “Yeah, yeah, I got it, independence is very important. But your own apartment, what’s the point? You can live with us, it’s much cheaper—
Episode 31. A Lover's Bind: The Psychoanalysis of Romantic Relationships
One couple fights over household responsibilities. Another is trapped in a cycle of jealousy and control. Still another strives for total harmony and oneness—only to be tormented by intense anxiety the moment small differences arise. With the help of the famous psychodynamic concept of collusion, this episode deals with the often conflictual relations between couples. We often encounter in romanti
Episode 30: On the psychoanalysis of addictive disorders
Addiction is one of the most widespread forms of mental illness. However, it is also burdened with many stigmas, and those suffering from it are often stigmatized. Treating it is considered difficult. But why do people become addicted? Can anyone become an addict? What is the psychological function of addictive behavior? This episode is an introduction to the psychoanalytic understanding of addict
Episode 29: The Anorexic Dynamic. Or: Why eating disorders are not about the food
“You are what you eat.” We are continuously negotiating our identity through food, setting the boundaries of the self. Inscribed into the symptoms of anorexia is an unconscious conflict of identity, which has something to do with one’s own longings and cravings, with a hunger for the other. In psychodynamic therapies, these longings become part of the therapeutic exchange, while also leading to a
Episode 28: Malignant Narcissism: A Reservoir of Hatred and Violence
History has certainly never failed to offer reasons and occasions to cause violence of all sorts; making it understandable how Freud arrived at the following verdict towards the end of his life: “Homo homini lupus—man is wolf to man. Who in the face of all his experience of life and of history, will have the courage to dispute this assertion?”
One form of violence in particular has played an espe
Episode 27: The Tragedy of Narcissism
The diagnosis of “narcissism” appears to have come into vogue, not only in the field of clinical psychology. It is an inescapable diagnosis for just about any critique of contemporary society. But what exactly are we talking about when we talk of narcissism? How do such diagnoses of our times relate to the clinical and psychoanalytical understanding of narcissism?
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Episode 26: Grief. The path through the realm of shadow.
Grief is one of life’s inevitable experiences, for we live in a world that is fleeting. Processing loss is one of the most difficult mental processes and yet every human being must face it. Some mourning processes are so severe that they lead to mental illnesses. This episode deals with the various phenomena and nuances of mourning and how therapy can accompany this process.
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Tales of Therapy—Alex. Part Three. The Night has an End.
After the previous phases of therapy, in which Alex’s symptoms and later his own life story took center stage, the outbreak of the Corona crisis sends the therapeutic work into turmoil. Fears of infection, but also alleged “conspiracy theories” confine the therapeutic space and raise questions. These become, at the same time, the starting point for uncovering the transgenerational entanglements. A
Tales of Therapy—Alex. Part Two. The Lost Self.
Alex, a man in his mid-thirties, comes to therapy with psychosomatic symptoms and anxiety attacks, for which initially there appears to be no explanation. In the first phase of therapy, this often first involves finding words for his own feelings and sorting out the inner chaos. In the meantime, an intensive therapeutic process has begun, over the course of which Alex gradually comes to accept his
Tales of Therapy—Alex. Part One. Searching for Words
This case study is about Alex, a man in his mid-thirties, who spent over four years in analysis, most of that time with three sessions a week. Alex came into therapy with psychosomatic symptoms and anxiety attacks for which there appeared to be no explanation. The story of therapy describes the development of mental space in which emotional meaning gradually emerges, thoughts and feelings connect,
Winter break
We well be back in March with new episodes!
See you soon
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Episode 25: “O Parting, Fountain of all Words.” — Why progress is grounded in loss
Attachment, love, always goes hand in hand with losses—thus happiness and sadness are also close relatives. In this episode we will hear more about why separation and loss not only mean suffering, but also play an important role for psychological development.
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Episode 24: The Concepts of Contemporary Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is often equated with the work of Sigmund Freud. Contemporary modes of thought and therapeutic approaches such as relational psychoanalysis or mentalization-based therapy methods are often less well known, despite being central to current practice. This episode provides an introduction to the concepts of contemporary psychoanalysis.
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Episode 23: On the Psychoanalysis of Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy phantasma derive their power from affects, not from arguments. They cannot be understood by differentiating them from some supposedly reasonable normality – for normality may not be so reasonable after all – but only in the reflection of their affective cohesiveness.
In fact, they are a social psychological phenomenon of extraordinary proportions: and a case for depth psychology. In th
Episode 22: C.G. Jung and the Collective Unconscious
“The school of C.G. Jung has played a controversial role in psychoanalysis. More than almost any other psychological school, it grants a greater role to the symbolic world of the psyche, fairy tales, myths, and legends, but also alchemy or astrology. The significance of this spiritual reality is expressed at life-historical thresholds and in crisis situations, but also in anger over the lousy endi
Episode 21: The Long Shadow of Trauma – Transgenerational Transmission
“A trauma does not disappear through silence; it cannot be silenced out of existence. It remains effective in fantasies, dreams, and experiences, but eludes language and thus understanding. It only becomes more diffuse, more intangible; it becomes a shadow or an undead, casting an invisible spell over the family history... But how do you break a spell?”
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Episode 20: Trauma – The wounded soul. Post-traumatic disorders.
“It is important to emphasize that in every victim of trauma there is a desire for vitality and healing. Consciously and unconsciously, the injured psyche tries to understand what has happened, to mitigate the destructiveness, and to reintegrate it into one’s own identity.”
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Episode 19: Trauma – The wounded soul. Early childhood trauma
“What remains unresolved in the mind knows no time.”
This episode is the first of a three-part series on the psychoanalysis of trauma. In the first part we will hear about attachment and early childhood trauma and the impact it can have on our psychological development.
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Our youtube-channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LivesoftheUnconscious
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Summer break
We wish you a relaxing summer!
See you soon
Your Lives-of-the-Unconscious-Team
Visit our website: www.psy-cast.org or our youtube-channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/LivesoftheUnconscious
Join our newsletter: Write a mail with the subject "Newsletter registration" to Lives@psy-cast.org
Support us on Patreon and get the scripts to the episodes: www.patreon.com/lives
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Episode 18: Healing Through Understanding—How psychoanalysis works
“And how is this supposed to work here?” This is the question that quite a few patients ask at the beginning of psychotherapy. How psychotherapy works—especially psychoanalytic treatment—is, at first glance, more difficult to explain than, say, the effect of a medical procedure. A physicians has instruments, to operate on a broken leg, prescribes exercises or drugs, for example an antibiotic. The
Episode 17: Repression, Rationalization, Sublimation – The “mature” defense mechanisms.
Over the course of a therapeutic session, a depressed patient talks about his work colleagues with whom he is working on a group project for his studies. The patient says: "Yesterday we wanted to meet to discuss our project and everyone brought their work. As we were exchanging ideas, I noticed that everyone else was already much further along with their work than me. I have the feeling that they
Episode 16: Denial, Splitting, Projection – The early defense mechanisms
The division head of a company has called an important meeting. All employees are present at the agreed upon time, except for the boss. Only once an employee calls him does he remember the meeting and arrives significantly late. He apologizes cursorily and begins the meeting. In the next few minutes, in front of the assembled team, he criticizes specific employees unusually harshly for their work
Episode 15: Compulsion, Obsessiveness, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Everyone has their rituals that they insist upon observing more or less fastidiously and, if interrupted, would react to sensitively. From adhering to a particular daily routine, say, before an important exam or a date to athletes who cross themselves, put on their lucky socks, or perform some other ritual before competing. Among the so-called obsessive-compulsive disorders there is a set of sympt
Episode 14: The Oedipus Complex. Timeless or obsolete?
When this term comes into play, all analytical alarm bells start going off: Oedipus Complex. This concept seems to epitomize everything disreputable in all those abysmally-fanciful psychoanalytic concepts, which conflate childhood and sexuality and which give birth to concepts such as castration anxiety, penis envy, incestuous desire. But what exactly is the Oedipus complex about? And is the conce
Episode 13: Borderline—A balancing act between psychological extremes
Children are existentially reliant upon their primary caregivers concerning almost every sphere of life and, most of all, in relation to their need for love. If the caregivers are also those who attack this psychological survival, children face an unanswerable situation that has disastrous consequences for psychological development. According to the psychoanalytic understanding, borderline is a se
Episode 12: The architecture of personality. Structural disorders
Not all depression is the same, nor all forms of anxiety. The very same symptom can have completely different meanings for different people and can require different therapeutic approaches. For classification, the so-called level of structural integration is often used in psychoanalysis. It offers information on the architecture and composition of the structure of the psyche, which can be built mo
Episode 11: “How one becomes what one is.” – On the False Self
We all wear masks from time to time: at work, in front of our friends, sometimes even—or perhaps especially—within our family and in front of our partners. But there are people who find it difficult to ever take off this mask, who may not even know what their face would look like underneath. This episode deals with such questions of identity and the influential concept of the false self.
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Episode 10: Fear and Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychological problems for which people seek out psychotherapy. At the same time, anxiety is a feeling that everyone knows and everyone has suffered from—some more, some less. But at what point does anxiety become an illness? This episode explores the question of how anxiety arises and how anxiety disorders can be understood from a psychoanalytic perspec
Episode 9: Theater of Minds—On Dramaturgic Awareness
The world is a stage—the couch too? So many scenes, sometimes even true dramas, play out in our minds. In everyday life we slip into the most diverse roles; the two protagonists we call patient and therapist are no exception. This episode deals with how, within the therapeutic setting, our unconscious sets the stage for these roles and how psychoanalysts understand these situations.
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Episode 8: Is Psychoanalysis Effective?
Is there evidence for the effectiveness of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic-based therapy methods? For which forms of illness is it suitable? In this episode we present significant findings from research on psychoanalytic psychotherapy and address the question of whether the effectiveness of psychoanalysis is scientifically proven.
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Episode 7: Is Psychoanalysis Scientific?
Psychoanalysis is an exotic resident in the house of science. A wide variety of disciplines have borrowed from it, from neuroscience to the social sciences, to art and literature. At the same time, it has often been confronted with the accusation of being unscientific. We will dedicate two episodes of our podcast to just this question. In the first episode, we look at the scientific status of psyc
Episode 6: Mentalization. Or: "I am what I think you think I am."
Everyone has probably wondered to themselves: "Why did I just do that?" or even, "Why did my partner actually behave like that?" The ability to relate and interpret one's own actions and behavior, and that of another person, to mental states is called the ability to mentalize. In some people it is well developed, while in others it is rather fragile, as is often the case, for example, with so-call
Episode 5: Attachment—Such stuff as souls are made on
What constitutes our inner mental life is in large part based on our early relationship experiences. This principle of psychoanalytic thinking becomes particularly clear in the concept of attachment. Attachment describes the existential experience of emotional resonance and reassurance in relationships—or its fateful absence.
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Episode 4: “Two souls alas! are dwelling in my breast”—Psychic Conflicts
"Should I really do it—or should I rather not?" In many situations, we are at odds with ourselves, want to have our cake and eat it too, or are two minds—or even more?—about something. Conflicts determine our coexistence with other people, but also our inner mental life. The subject of this episode is: why conflicts are the key to understanding psychological suffering, but also to psychological de
Episode 3: Repression
"That’s something that I’ve done? I don’t to remember that at all!"
The word repression has made a career for itself: even in our everyday language we speak of repressed feelings and memories. But what is it really all about? Is it true that one can really completely repress basic experiences? What role does repression play in our mental life and in therapy? This episode digs into the dark chamber
Episode 2: Transference—Countertransference
They are among the central terms of psychoanalysis: transference and countertransference. While at the same time, they describe something that every person experiences in daily life; for transference always takes place when we enter into relationships with others. In this episode you will learn what is meant by this.
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Episode 1: What is Psychoanalysis?
Outdated and dusty? No other psychotherapeutic practice generates as many rumors as psychoanalysis. Generally, psychoanalysis is equated with a red couch and the works of Sigmund Freud. But what is it really all about? And what distinguishes contemporary psychoanalysis? The first episode introduces the basic features of psychoanalytic therapy and explains what is characteristic of psychoanalysis t
