Sigmund Freud was born in Freiberg, Moravia (now Czech Republic), in 1856. Freud's influence in the field of psychology is reflected by his several works on the subconscious and the creation of the psychoanalytical school of psychology. Nowadays, it is hard to find an educated person who hasn't heard of Freud.

Freud's academic life started in Vienna. In 1873 he endeavoured in the medical school of the University of Vienna. At this stage, his main focus was in biology and he studied 6 years of physiology under the tutelage of the German scientist Ernst Brücke. In 1881, Freud received his medical degree, including a specialization in neurology. Furthermore, he joined the Vienna General Hospital as a doctor, in 1882.

Perhaps the turning point of Sigmund's life was the period of 1885-86 which he spent in Paris. In that instance, he became impressed by the work of the French neurologist Jean Charcot, who used hypnotism as an alternative therapy to several mental conditions, such as hysteria. After his return to Vienna, Freud experimented with hypnotism, but finding flaws in the treatment, decided to adopt an approach used by a friend - Josef Breuer. This approach consisted in encouraging a hysterical patient to talk uninhibitedly about the condition's symptoms. Working with Breuer, Freud developed the idea that several mental conditions were originated in traumatic experiences which had taken place in the past, but were now forgotten. Recurring these experiences and confronting them would be the key process to combat the neurotic symptoms. In 1895, Freud and Breuer published Studies in Hysteria.

Freud and Breuer disagreed in some points though. Freud placed increased emphasis in the role of sex in the analysis of mental conditions, and the focus still is the reason for most disagreement to Freud's theory in the academic world. Freud continued to work alone in the development of the psychoanalysis theory and in 1900, following a long period of self-analysis, he published the remarkable Interpretation of Dreams.

Freud continued his studies and published several other works, later on developing the concept of Id, Ego and Superego. Nowadays, he remains an icon to psychology and is known as the "Father of Psychoanalysis". Freud had several famous pupils, such as Jung and Adler. His daughter, Anna Freud, also became a well-known psychologist. In 1939, Sigmund Freud died of cancer while living in England.

Pedro Gondim is a writer and publisher for the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. The Institute is Australia's largest counsellor training provider, offering the internationally renowned Diploma of Professional Counselling.

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Author's Note: I highly recommend Simon Clarke's articles.

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