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In regard to the wording of initial guidelines, a personal tone (e.g. ‘I hope you will express yourself as freely as possible…’) contrasts with a task/functional orientation (e.g. ‘The idea in psychoanalysis is to be as open with your thoughts and feelings as possible…’). Considering the use of explanatory metaphors, some analysts reported that “With some people Freud’s train analogy is unsurpassable; with others one should be more concrete or detailed…” (ditto, p. 65). Others reported individualized metaphors as “To find one’s way back to the dark…to try to follow, not lead, one’s thoughts” (ditto, p. 65). The timing of the introduction of the fundamental rule in the Lichtenberg and Galler study ranged from the first session throughout the initial phase, and with subsequent short reminders, as the specific needs for clarification may emerge at any point during the psychoanalytic process. The reasons behind the choices of the manner in which the guidelines are presented varied considerably: from an explicit or implicit emphasis on the establishment of the basic framework, allowing for freedom within safety of the boundaries/rules; to the ability to gauge the patient’s immediate experience, from his or her momentary associations (to the instruction); to advancement of expressive communication; to preparation of the patient for the difficulties following the basic rule (focus on resistances from the beginning of the process throughout). Overall, the contemporary diversity in the way analysts introduce the free associations could be viewed (Lichtenberg and Galler 1987) as pointing to the tension between the wish to preserve analytic tradition and the wish to introduce new approaches, to experiment and to be mindful of the experience of a particular dyad at work. The modifications occurred mainly in the areas of broadening the subject matter of the free associations to encourage the analysands to include bodily sensations, images, dreams, memories, and references to the analyst, to be verbalized. This follows a long-standing trend of ‘widening the range’ of associative material to include body activity and nonverbal sounds (Balint 1959, Scott 1958, Glover 1955). This is also consistent with separate work on the subject by George Caruso (in: Blackman 2010) who advised giving new patients an answer to their question of “What should I talk about?” His suggestion included “all thoughts and feelings about [your chief complaint], important relationships in your life – present and past, dreams, daydreams, the treatment process, what I say, and even about me – especially negative thoughts and when you feel guarded” (ibid, p. 216). These ideas, for patients unfamiliar with free association or unable, at first, to engage in it, complement the classic modern description of psychoanalytic technique based on conflict theory (Compton 1975, 2000). Lichtenberg and Galler (1987) note that, in contrast to extending the range of associative material, the traditional concern over regulating the level of regression (Laforgue 1936, Glover 1955) in relation to free association was not mentioned by any of the responders in the present survey. A possible explanation that Lichtenberg and Galler (1987) offer is that, while earlier in the history of analysis some analysts might have cautioned a somnolent patient to keep verbalizing, most contemporary analysts might rather attempt to explore the sleepiness
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