Lacanian-Oriented Psychoanalysis
Lacanian-Oriented Psychoanalysis
At Psychotherapy Dublin, we offer Lacanian-oriented psychoanalysis, a form of psychoanalysis that engages with the unconscious to address the root causes of emotional suffering. Rooted in the teachings of Jacques Lacan, this approach views symptoms—such as anxiety, depression, compulsions, or difficulties in relationships—not simply as problems to be eliminated but as meaningful expressions of something deeper within the psyche.
Understanding the Structure of Suffering
Lacan described the psyche through the metaphor of the Borromean knot—a structure where three interlinked rings (the symbolic, the imaginary, and the real) hold each other together. If one ring is cut, the entire knot unravels. In analysis, we explore how these dimensions operate in your life. The symbolic relates to language, meaning, and the structures that shape us. The imaginary concerns the way we see ourselves and others, often in distorted or idealized forms. The real points to what cannot be fully put into words—trauma, bodily experience, and the limits of meaning itself.
Understanding this structure is useful in addressing real suffering. When difficulties arise—whether in relationships, work, or one’s internal world—it often signals a tension or disruption in this knot. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution, Lacanian psychoanalysis helps unravel these entanglements in a way that leads to lasting transformation, allowing for new ways of relating to oneself and the world.
Common symptoms that our therapists have experience of working with include:
Importantly, we do not believe that each person’s mental suffering can be described by a mere label, such as ‘anxiety.’ Decades of clinical experience tells us that each person’s symptom is entirely individual to them. One person may experience anxiety as pains in their chest, another may suffer from a repetition of a specific thought, another may wake at a certain time each night. With such a variety in the experience and cause of mental distress we begin to see how important it is for each person to work to the root of their very singular issue.
Why Choose Lacanian Psychoanalysis?
Unlike therapies that aim to correct or manage symptoms, Lacanian analysis fosters a deeper transformation. By working through the unconscious, it allows for new ways of relating to oneself and the world—beyond repetitive patterns that may have felt inescapable. Each analysis is unique, structured not by a manual but by your own speech and the singularity of your experience. Sessions vary in length rather than adhering to a fixed timeframe, allowing the process to unfold in a way that is most effective for the individual. Over time, some analyses may move toward twice-weekly sessions, deepening the work and engagement with the unconscious.
If you are curious about what your symptoms might be telling you, or if you find yourself returning to the same difficulties despite your best efforts, psychoanalysis offers a space to explore these questions in a way that respects the complexity of the human subject. If this speaks to you, we invite you to reach out and begin a conversation.
