At the beginning of the 20th century, the concept of catharsis entered psychology and psychotherapy. It is based on the psychotherapeutic practice of psychoanalysis, the founder of which is Sigmund Freud. In psychoanalysis, the concept of “catharsis” is a synonym for response, which leads to the elimination of the patient’s deep-seated internal conflicts and the elimination of mental suffering.
Translated from Greek, the term "catharsis" means "healing" or "cleansing." The essence of the method proposed by Freud and developed by his followers is the deliberate introduction of a person into a state of hypnosis. Such an altered state of consciousness of the patient gives the therapist access to painful memories and traumatic experiences of the person who has applied for help. The release of unconscious impulses is followed by the release of experiences, in most cases leading to the elimination of pathogenic manifestations.
The effect of catharsis can be interpreted as follows. Against the background of strong emotions, accompanied by bodily sensations, a person removes an internal conflict, turning into a state without tension. The greatest psychotherapeutic effect is achieved when the patient consciously goes through past painful events for him, connecting the mind, emotions, and physical sensations. This is not about verbal reproduction of traumatic pictures of the past, but about complete immersion in them with access to the realm of the unconscious.
Passing through catharsis makes it possible to get to the deepest roots of psychological conflict and eliminate the cause of painful experiences. The emphasis is on somatic and emotional discharge, and not on logical constructions. Introspection and attempts to find a reasonable explanation of the inadequacy of a person to the conditions of the situation only make it difficult to achieve purification.
The patient’s experience of catharsis often immediately leads to his immersion in a state of serenity, a sharp improvement in physical well-being. For a long time, the accumulated charge discharged through catharsis brings a feeling of complete liberation and purification from a traumatic situation. As a rule, going through a catharsic experience brings a feeling of complete freedom to a person’s life, and in some cases removes the need for further therapeutic effects.