What is a psychoanalyst and how much do you earn? 

Have you heard about what a psychoanalyst is? Maybe the name is well known, but do you really know what your role is and what college is needed to be a psychoanalyst? Let's find out!

Psychoanalyst: what is the area?

The psychoanalyst works in the area of psychoanalysis, one of the fields of psychology that focuses more on the unconscious, mental processes and mechanisms that directly influence human behavior.

For this, concepts are used that were developed by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, neurologist and psychiatrist.

The psychoanalyst carries out psychoanalytic treatment, offering a safe and confidential space for patients to explore their thoughts, emotions and past experiences.

The main objective of psychoanalysis is to uncover the unconscious, bringing back forgotten memories that may be causing psychological disorders, disease symptoms or dysfunctional behavior patterns.

The techniques used may involve dream interpretation, speech content analysis, free association and others.

For a professional to become a psychoanalyst, it is necessary to have a degree in any area, but you can choose related areas, such as medicine, psychology, literature and history.

But after finishing this first course, in order to become a psychoanalyst you need to complete a specialization, that is, a postgraduate degree in Psychoanalysis.

The specialization takes 12 to 18 months to complete. But it is not entirely accurate to say that there is no Psychoanalysis course, as there is currently only one university in Brazil that offers this course.

The International University Center (UNINTER) has a bachelor's degree in psychoanalysis, lasting 4 years, but only in the EAD modality.

How much does a psychoanalyst earn?

According to an article from the beginning of 2023 by Ibrapsi, the Brazilian Institute of Psychoanalysis, the average salary of a psychoanalyst is R$3,136, but this is in reference to a 40-hour work week, analyzing sources from 2022 and 2023.

This being the average, the minimum is usually around R$2,303.62 while the salary cap comes in at R$7,025.49.

But this salary can vary according to several factors, such as the region, the professional's work and demand.

Difference between psychology and psychoanalysis

A Psychologist is a professional trained in psychology, and this is their main difference, since a psychoanalyst does not have such a specific course.

Furthermore, the approach is different, for example, in psychology the work is to understand human behavior, while in psychoanalysis an approach is taken that focuses on the unconscious.

Still talking about the approach, the psychologist usually uses humanistic, positive and other therapy approaches. And the psychoanalyst will use concepts from Sigmund Freud to apply the treatment.

Psychoanalysis is commonly associated with clinical practice, working in private practices, clinics or mental health institutions.

Psychology covers a wide range of fields, such as clinical psychology, organizational psychology, educational psychology, social psychology, among others.

Now that you know more, look for specialization courses in psychoanalysis in your region so you can start your career.