Freud developed Psychoanalysis based on the notion that people store information in a part of their minds that they are unaware of. One of the most famous techniques he developed in association with Joseph Breuer was "Free Association" or talking about anything that is on your mind. This kind of talking was to be done without any interruptions or guidance. It was spontaneous. The belief was that this would help bring painful thoughts and feelngs that had been pushed into the unconscious, into the conscious. This led to the theory of catharsis or the "talking cure" - talking about painful things makes it easier for people to deal with it.
The typical client- counselor scene in movies is representative of the use of free association. The client lies down on a couch and the counselor or psychologist sits behind them (out of the client's view) This set up was meant to aid the client's ability to freely associate without the hinderance of the therapist's presence.