Is Psychoanalysis The Answer To Limiting Beliefs?

After The Three Levels of Leadership came out in 2011, readers followed up with questions on leadership, leadership psychology and self-mastery – all of them interesting.  So interesting, in fact, that I’m releasing my answers here as they supplement the “Three Levels” material and others may find them useful.  Here’s the fourth in the series.   I’ll post the others over the coming months…

 Q4. Is Psychoanalysis the best way to deal with limiting beliefs? 

“Let’s start by getting our terms right.  Psychoanalysis is just one form of talking therapy.  In fact, it’s the original form of therapy developed by Sigmund Freud over 100 years ago.  Since then, many schools of therapy have developed.  For example, Gestalt, Psychosynthesis, Cognitive-Behavioural, Person Centred, Solution Focused, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and so on.

So the question for me is, when you say “Psychoanalysis”, is that what you mean, or do you mean any kind of talking therapy?

If you are specifically talking about Psychoanalysis, then – and this is just my opinion – I would probably say no, it’s not the best way to deal with limiting beliefs.

Why?  Because psychoanalytic theory concentrates more on inner conflict.  By inner conflict, I mean the Ego’s struggle to reconcile the impulses of the Id (your basic desires and impulses) and the Superego’s tut-tutting (“you should do this”; “you shouldn’t do that”).  The idea of limiting beliefs and their effects on emotions and behaviour isn’t part of traditional psychoanalytic theory.

Now if you’re referring instead to the wider range of talking therapies, my answer would be different.  I’d say it depends on the therapist’s training.  Someone trained in the Cognitive Behavioural or Mindfulness-based Cognitive schools should be able to help you.  As would an executive coach trained in the principles and techniques of these schools.  But I’d say it’s just as important to work with someone who’s experienced in applying these techniques with leaders in organisations like yours – not only that, someone you trust and respect.

However, although it’s helpful as a leader to work with someone else (because they can more easily see your mental boxes than you), it’s not essential.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy to do this work on your own, but it’s possible.  And, indeed, eventually you’ll have to work on your own even if in the early days you work with a coach.  But if you choose to work on your own from the start, you can.  I’ve suggested a means of doing so in The Three Levels of Leadership – this is the Self-Enquiry technique I’ve explained in chapter 9.”

 

The author of this blog is James Scouller, an executive coach.  His book, The Three Levels of Leadership: How to Develop Your Leadership Presence, Knowhow and Skill, was published by Management Books 2000 in May 2011.  You can learn more about it at www.three-levels-of-leadership.com.  If you want to see its reviews, click here: leadership book reviews.  If you want to know where to buy it, click HERE.