A system of psychological theory and therapy that aims to treat mental conditions by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind.

The description you provided refers to psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a system of psychological theory and therapy that was developed by Sigmund Freud. It aims to treat mental conditions by investigating the interaction of conscious and unconscious elements in the mind. Here are the steps to understand this:

1. Psychoanalysis is based on the idea that people are driven by aggressive and sexual instincts that are unconscious. These unconscious feelings and past experiences shape our current behavior and thoughts.

2. The method used in psychoanalysis is called free association. In this, the patient is asked to freely share thoughts, feelings, and anything that comes to mind. The analyst listens and provides interpretations of these thoughts to help the patient gain insight into their behavior and feelings.

3. Another important part of psychoanalysis is dream analysis. Freud believed that dreams are a way for our unconscious mind to communicate with our conscious mind. By analyzing dreams, the therapist can gain insight into the patient's unconscious mind.

4. The goal of psychoanalysis is to bring what is unconscious into consciousness. By doing this, the patient can gain insight into their behavior and feelings, and thus can make changes to improve their life.

5. Psychoanalysis is a long-term therapy, often taking many years. It requires a significant commitment from the patient, both in terms of time and emotional energy.

6. It's important to note that while psychoanalysis has been influential in the field of psychology, it has also been criticized. Some critics argue that it is not scientifically valid or reliable, while others say that it is too focused on the past and not enough on the present or future.