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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

The Function of Free Association in Psychoanalysis

Free association is a foundational technique in psychoanalysis, serving as a central method for exploring the unconscious mind. To an outside observer, it might appear to be a simple act of speaking whatever comes to mind. However, for the clinician, it is a powerful tool designed to bypass the ego's defenses and access repressed thoughts, memories, and desires (Freud, 1913). What is the function of this cornerstone of psychoanalytic practice, and how has its application evolved?

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Amanda Lenox Amanda Lenox

Responding to Bids: The Currency of Connection in Relationships

Relationships thrive on responsiveness. When one partner extends a "bid" for connection—whether through a comment, question, touch, or glance—how the other responds can either strengthen or weaken the relationship's foundation. This dynamic, first identified by relationship researcher Dr. John Gottman, reveals much about why some relationships flourish while others falter (Gottman & Silver, 1999).

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