Psychoanalytic psychotherapy owes its origins to psychoanalysis as developed by Sigmund Freud. He observed that psychological symptoms were alleviated as his patients free-associated their thoughts and feelings in the comfort and privacy of his office. He developed theories about psychosocial development, conscience and the repetition compulsion, the latter explaining why we recreate unpleasant experiences in our lives.

Later anaysts continued his work by formulating theories about the developmental phases of infancy and adolescence. Techniques were also developed for strengthening the ego which promote such functions as perception, memory, self-awareness, planning and executing behavior and activating mental creativity. Object relations theory addresses the issues of interpersonal relationships.

While psychoanalytic psychotherapy is informed by psychoanaytic principals, it requires far less of a time commitment than analysis.