Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) Practice

In which therapy is free association primarily used?

1. Collaborative Therapy

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

3. Psychoanalytical Therapy

4. Person-Centered Therapy

The correct answer is: Psychoanalytical Therapy

Free association is primarily used in psychoanalytical therapy, a technique pioneered by Sigmund Freud. In this therapeutic approach, clients are encouraged to verbalize their thoughts, feelings, and memories without censorship or restraint. This method allows therapists to gain insights into the unconscious mind, revealing underlying thoughts and emotions that may contribute to a person's psychological issues. Through free association, therapists can identify patterns or significant experiences that might not be readily accessible to the client’s conscious awareness. This technique is fundamental to psychoanalysis because it aims to explore repressed or hidden memories and thoughts, thereby facilitating understanding and healing. The goal is to allow the client to discover and articulate their own associations, leading to deeper self-awareness and the potential to address emotional conflicts and psychological disorders. Other therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or person-centered therapy, do not employ free association in this manner and focus on different methods of exploring thoughts and behaviors.