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 ability to also read the leading article from a different point of view.


This week we are very glad to welcome Toghrul Salamzade from Istanbul, Turkey:

Born in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. When he was 10 years old he moved with his family to Northern Cyprus. In 2010 he had graduated from high-school and he decided study Psychology in Girne American University. After his graduation he moved to Turkey. In his student period he had trainings and courses on Sex therapy and Hypnosis. Then in 2014 he moved to Istanbul, Turkey. In Istanbul, he developed his knowledge on psychology and got extra 13 trainings and courses on psychology.  
He gave seminars and conferences on several topics such as Forensic Psychology, Child Sexuality, Addiction and etc. He read almost all books of Freud and Fromm and works in Istanbul as psychotherapist. 



DWP: What led you to deal with psychoanalysis, respectively with Freud and his achievements?

Toghrul Salamzade: I love philosophy! When I first to study psychology I began to read books of Sigmund Freud. Freud loves question “Why?” And it is also the basis of psychoanalysis. Freud was different than others: he was radical! He made radical statements and forced me to think about his theories.

For me specifically, the very interesting things in psychoanalysis are dream interpretation and Oedipus complex. Dream interpretation is dogma; and this is what makes it different – I think.


DWP: Have you ever undergone psychoanalysis?

Toghrul Salamzade: Yes. It was 2-3 years ago and was very eye-opening experience for me.


DWP: If you had the opportunity to talk with Sigmund Freud, what would be the topic?

Toghrul Salamzade: The topic definitely would be “Attachment issue of an individual” (Oedipus complex) and God. I would like to have discussion with him about these two topics because I believe they are vital issues in today’s society.


DWP: Fabric or leather couch?

Toghrul Salamzade: Fabric couch! It reminds me of my childhood :)


DWP: According to Bruno Bettelheim and the importance of fairy tales in childhood. Will you tell us your favorite fairy tale? And do you see parallels to your own adult life?

Toghrul Salamzade: Good question! My grandfather told me a lot of fairy tales when I was a child. He told me the fairy tale about a young man who fought against dragons and monsters. He killed them all and the reason he did it was because he tried to save his beloved lady.

And yes, I believe that there are parallels in my adult life. For example, in those fairy tales there’s good dogs and cats who helped that young man. And now in my adult life I can consider myself as an animal lover! This is just one of the parallels that I can see (and tell) for now.


DWP: I dream, …

Toghrul Salamzade: I don’t worship Freud. But his perseverance, knowledge and way of thinking encourage me! In my life as psychologist, I would like to be determined as Freud. His ideas considered as “absurd” in his time. But he tried to do his best. I would like to do the same.


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

Toghrul Salamzade: Psychoanalysis forces individual to think. It doesn’t matter who you are; you have to think! I believe that one of the biggest problems of 21th century is that people don’t like to think. Psychoanalysis makes us think.

Another thing that I can say about psychoanalysis is that it finds the root of the problem and directly shows it.

The thing that I cannot still agree with psychoanalysis is the “religion issue.” I believe religion and God are separated. People can sometime search for supernatural power (such as God) but Freud (may be his background was Jewish) opposed especially the European (Christian) idea of God. The only thing that I don’t agree with Freud is this :)


DWP: Do you have a favorite Freud - quote?

Toghrul Salamzade: I have a lot of favorite quotes of him. But the most favorite is this:
“Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.”


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

Toghrul Salamzade: Yes, I would like to study Lacan, Heinz Hartmann and Melanie Klein. The more you know, the more your eyes get opened!


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



Contact information of the author:
Toghrul Salamzade