An alternative to physical therapy was developed from the work of neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot (1825–1893) and his interest in the effects of hypnotism. This work strongly influenced psychoanalyst and psychiatrist Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) who saw the root cause behind neuroses as an inner conflict between the consciousness and the unconscious part of the mind instead of physical malfunction. Therapy would help patients gain insight into their condition through psychoanalysis.
Numerous different versions of an ‘intervention’ evolved from Freudian models, some developments of his psychological approach, others as a response to them. Different methods of therapy were based on schools of thought in other branches of psychology such as behaviorism, Gestalt psychology, and cognitive psychology, but they all shared the same basic idea of using psychology rather than physical treatments.
