Transference and Countertransference

Photo by Alex Green: 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-patient-and-psychologist-discussing-problem-in-office-5699451/

This is a topic that can get confusing. It can be easy to mix up the two concepts, however it is important to know the differences between the two. Come back on Friday to practice with a question related to this topic below…

The concept of transference, which originated in psychoanalytic theory, is used by some therapists, particularly those who are psychodynamically oriented, as a tool for understanding and helping clients work through their past conflicts. Transference  refers to emotional reactions that are assigned to current relationships but have their roots in earlier, often unresolved and unconscious experiences. For example, a client who grew up feeling hostility toward his parents may develop hostile feelings toward you even though no overt reason exists for those feelings (Barker, 2003). Transference may be either positive or negative, however: With positive transference, a client transfers affectionate feelings to his therapist; and with negative transference, a client transfers hostile feelings to his therapist.

To manage a client’s transference reaction, you may do the following: 

(a) First consider the possibility that the client’s reaction is realistic. 

(b) If you conclude that the client expects you to respond in countertherapeutic ways, as others in his life have, respond differently in order to disprove his expectations. The client will then have to deal with you as a real person. 

(c) Help the client identify the source of his distorted perception by exploring how and why his feelings evolved. Don’t try to change his distortion immediately.

(d) After the client recognizes the distortion underlying his feelings, share your own feelings. 

(e) After problematic feelings have been explored, help the client figure out whether he has had similar reactions in other relationships.

Countertransference is defined as “a set of conscious or unconscious emotional reactions to a client experienced by the therapist … usually in a clinical setting” (Barker, 2003, p. 100). Like transference, the concept of countertransference originated in psychoanalytic theory. In Freud’s initial conceptualization, countertransference was considered to reflect the therapist’s distorted response to a client. Recent conceptualizations maintain that, when countertransference is recognized and appropriately managed, it is a potential source of information about the client and an important contributor to the curative process (Langs, 1982).

As a therapist, you should seek the advice and counsel of colleagues whenever doing so is in the best interests of a client. In the case of countertransference, you should seek consultation (or supervision) before countertransference feelings and their potential consequences (such as the loss of objectivity) have a chance to damage your relationship with a client or otherwise interfere with treatment.

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