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Psychoanalytic Excavation

A Look at What Lies beneath the Surface of Human Behavior and Motivation

Unconscious
Losing It

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on November 11, 2014

Freud described it first and it's still true. Symptoms can alert us to hidden thoughts and feelings. The unconscious uses a metaphoric and visual language of its own to communicate.

Freud described it first and it's still true. Symptoms can alert us to hidden thoughts and feelings. The unconscious uses a metaphoric and visual language of its own to communicate.

Motivation
Watching Us Watching Watertown

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on April 20, 2013

Many of us couldn't stop watching on friday as events unfolded in the manhunt for the terror suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing. Was our need to watch voyeurism or something more positive?

Many of us couldn't stop watching on friday as events unfolded in the manhunt for the terror suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing. Was our need to watch voyeurism or something more positive?

Suicide
The Art of Overcoming Obstacles

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on February 26, 2013

Overcoming obstacles leads to a decrease in helplessness and hopelessness in both therapy and life. A new effort from the White House's Joining Forces may well be a clue to a public health approach to improving military mental health and even suicide reduction. Civilian response is key.

Overcoming obstacles leads to a decrease in helplessness and hopelessness in both therapy and life. A new effort from the White House's Joining Forces may well be a clue to a public health approach to improving military mental health and even suicide reduction. Civilian response is key.

Attention
Jeep's 2013 Super Bowl Commercial: The Wars Come Home

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on February 3, 2013

Jeep's entry into Super Bowl commercial extravaganza highlights community response to wars' end. Civilian response to war includes pathological defenses.

Jeep's entry into Super Bowl commercial extravaganza highlights community response to wars' end. Civilian response to war includes pathological defenses.

Marriage
Ten Reasons to Support Gay Marriage

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on May 10, 2012

Support for same-sex marriage may be good for our mental health.

Support for same-sex marriage may be good for our mental health.

Psychoanalysis
Why we CAN'T know why they did it

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on June 13, 2011

What does Alexander Hamilton have in common with Anthony Weiner? A lot. And why is it impossible for us to know why they do what they do?

What does Alexander Hamilton have in common with Anthony Weiner? A lot. And why is it impossible for us to know why they do what they do?

Relationships
Three Rules to Live By--Just in Time for the Holidays

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on December 21, 2010

Answering three questions and a little emotional creativity can help you make difficult social decisions and avoid obsessional, guilt ridden, self neglecting or selfish decisions.

Answering three questions and a little emotional creativity can help you make difficult social decisions and avoid obsessional, guilt ridden, self neglecting or selfish decisions.

Anger
So why is the Gores' separation so unsettling?

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on June 2, 2010

The Gores marital split up evokes predictable emotional reactions in those of us hearing the news.  Our reactions are transference  phenomena that say nothing about the Gores, but some interesting things about us.

The Gores marital split up evokes predictable emotional reactions in those of us hearing the news.  Our reactions are transference  phenomena that say nothing about the Gores, but some interesting things about us.

Sexual Orientation
The Military's Closet

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on February 2, 2010

President Obama's State of the Union speech on Wednesday, as well as a strong editorial in today's New York Times, both call for the end of the pernicious policy in force in the military since 1993 known as "don't ask, don't tell".  The psychological damage caused by  this regulation is serious and supports the need for a reversal of the policy.

President Obama's State of the Union speech on Wednesday, as well as a strong editorial in today's New York Times, both call for the end of the pernicious policy in force in the military since 1993 known as "don't ask, don't tell".  The psychological damage caused by  this regulation is serious and supports the need for a reversal of the policy.

Therapy
Psychoanalysis at school in Cicero, IL

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on January 24, 2010

Fundamentally, psychoanalysis is about a commitment--no matter who inconvenient or how wierd in the eyes of others--to the inner world as a source of illness and healing both.  A program for troubled teens in cicero Illinois demonstrates a radical and exciting application of this commitment.

Fundamentally, psychoanalysis is about a commitment--no matter who inconvenient or how wierd in the eyes of others--to the inner world as a source of illness and healing both.  A program for troubled teens in cicero Illinois demonstrates a radical and exciting application of this commitment.

Therapy
Evidence Basis for "Evidenced Based"?

Prudence L Gourguechon M.D. on November 25, 2009

 We need to be careful with the logic we apply to using the results of evidenced based studies about treatment.

 We need to be careful with the logic we apply to using the results of evidenced based studies about treatment.