Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

abreaction

noun

ˌæbriˈækʃən

Definition

The expression and processing of emotional conflicts through the recollection of past experiences.

Examples

After years of therapy, she finally experienced an abreaction that helped her cope with her childhood trauma.
The psychiatrist encouraged him to engage in abreaction to overcome his emotional barriers.

Meaning

Abreaction is a psychological term used in therapy that refers to the process of expressing and releasing repressed emotions associated with traumatic events by recalling and confronting these experiences.