Leading articles

THE VIENNA PSYCHOANALYST wants to give not only already internationally established psychoanalysts, but also still unknown psychoanalysts the opportunity to post a self-written and not yet published article on the FrontPage of our online magazine!

Our Users then can leave comments, ask questions or discuss the articles in our forum. Our aim is to provide an international platform where for the first time anyone interested in psychoanalysis can exchange ideas on certain topics.
Articles are welcome in German and/ or English.

If you are interested, please send your article to
leadingarticle@theviennapsychoanalyst.at


(For reasons of readability, the male form is used with personal names, however the female form is also always intended.)

In our interview series "in conversation with“, we will briefly present the authors of the leading articles. We want to give our users the opportunity to read the leading article from a different point of view.


This week we are very glad to welcome Elisabeth Höchtl-Wallner from Vienna, Austria:

Psychotherapist (Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy / Psychoanalysis) in private practice, social scientist and economist, 10 years working in the field of leadership training and advanced training for senior staff, working at the counseling center of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna since 2006, a member of the “Wiener Arbeitskreis für Psychoanalyse”.



DWP: If you had the opportunity to talk with Sigmund Freud, what would be the topic?
Are there any specific questions?

Elisabeth Höchtl-Wallner: Narcissism, the unconscious and questions about the development of the ego.


DWP: I dream,….

Elisabeth Höchtl-Wallner: I dream, therefore I am. For me, the study of dreams, but also the study of daydreams, which are closer to the conscious mind, are the way to a fulfilled life. Dreams show us desires, longings, but also fears and worries. They are the starting point for development and change.


DWP: What do you find good or particularly good in psychoanalysis and is there anything you do not like about it?

Elisabeth Höchtl-Wallner: The legitimate and serious desire of many people is to live a good life, to be happy and to make something out of their life. Many people want to live in a partnership, possibly to start a family and have children. Almost all have to work for their livelihoods and want to learn or exercise a satisfying profession to earn through work. In addition, there should be enough room and time for friends and for oneself. Every single area of life is not easy to manage and is full of contradictions and difficult situations. For some people one or more of these areas of life remains closed despite their efforts. Others can access all areas, but they doubt themselves, or have inhibitions or bad feelings. Why this is so is a question of a psychoanalytic treatment.

The particularly good thing about the psychoanalytic treatment is that people who can not cope with something can find in the psychoanalyst a man or a woman who can significantly assist in their self-realization and in the development of the ego. If necessary, a piece of happy childhood can be made up.

The aim of psychoanalytic treatment is in my opinion, to take certain life issues such as partnership, children, occupation, health, friendships in the focus to acquire "this field" and to get to the bottom of self-doubt and bad, painful feelings. Psychoanalysis is not only an interesting theory; it can also help a person to a satisfying life. I think that´s great!

What I do not like in psychoanalysis: it is not a miracle cure. How nice would it be, if you would only need to go to therapy and all problems would be solved at once. Instead, every question needs time for processing and then it must become a reality in the outside life. Comforting is however that the effort is worthwhile! What remains to do for us until the invention of a miracle pill is the analysis of the underlying difficulties. This requires courage, willpower and the use of time and financial resources.


DWP: Do you have a favorite Freud - quote?

Elisabeth Höchtl-Wallner: The famous quote from Freud: “Where id was, there shall ego be.”


DWP:  Are there other psychoanalysts, in addition to Sigmund Freud, who you like to study?

Elisabeth Höchtl-Wallner: Melanie Klein gave me an insight into the spiritual life of children and their confrontation with aggression and jealousy is essential for me. The study of Lou Andreas Salomé brought me the "Passive", enjoying and sadomasochism closer. Similarly important for me are Otto Kernberg, the representatives of the modern Kleinians psychoanalysis and the many interesting lectures of my colleagues.


Thank you very much for this conversation, we are already looking forward to your leading article!



Contact information of the author:
Elisabeth Höchtl-Wallner