Winton Eliott
Transference has long been associated with pathology, entwined boundaries, and harmful therapy sessions.
Transference occurs within relationships and reflects a complex mix of emotions, memories, and subconscious behaviors.
We’ll look at how transference affects professional settings and examine practical methods to make it a positive element of therapy, as well as how it may be utilized in psychotherapy.
What is transference?
Transference can be defined as the displacement of feelings from one person to another.
It is a natural human tendency to assign our own emotions and thoughts to others, especially when we feel close to them.
For example, you may have felt like your boss was out to get you, even though they had no intention of doing so. Or, you may have felt that your best friend was ignoring you, even though they were preoccupied with their own thoughts.
In a therapeutic setting, transference occurs when patients project their feelings onto their therapist. This can happen in two ways: positive and negative.
Positive transference occurs when patients feel positively toward their therapist, while negative transference occurs when patients feel negatively towards their therapist.
Patients may feel positively towards their therapist because they represent a figure of authority, someone who is knowledgeable and can help them solve their problems.
On the other hand, patients may feel negatively towards their therapist because they see them as a threat to their well-being, or they may be reminded of past hurt.
Read also: Idealism Vs Realism
What is countertransference?
Countertransference is the therapist’s reaction to the patient’s transference. It occurs when the therapist starts to feel and think the same things that the patient is projecting onto them.
For example, if a patient is feeling positively toward their therapist, the therapist may start to feel the same way. Or, if a patient is feeling negatively towards their therapist, the therapist may start to feel the same way.
Countertransference can be positive or negative, just like transference.
Positive countertransference occurs when the therapist feels positively towards the patient, while negative countertransference occurs when the therapist feels negatively towards the patient.
Countertransference can be a helpful tool in therapy if it is used correctly. It can help the therapist understand the patient’s feelings and thoughts, as well as help the therapist, empathize with the patient.
However, countertransference can also be harmful if it is not managed properly.
Read also: What is Self Transcendence
What’s the big deal between transference and countertransference?
In a nutshell, the difference between transference and countertransference is that transference is the patient’s reaction to the therapist, while countertransference is the therapist’s reaction to the patient.
Both transference and countertransference are natural human tendencies, and they can both be helpful or harmful in therapy. It is important for therapists to be aware of this phenomenon and to manage them in a way that is helpful for the patient.
There are a few key points to remember when thinking about transference and countertransference:
- Transference and countertransference are natural human tendencies.
- Transference occurs when patients project their feelings onto their therapist.
- Countertransference occurs when the therapist starts to feel and think the same things that the patient is projecting onto them.
- Both transference and countertransference can be positive or negative.
- Transference and countertransference can be helpful or harmful in therapy.
- Therapists should be aware of this phenomenon and manage it in a way that is helpful for the patient.
Read also: Alpha Male vs Beta Male
What are some ways to deal with transference and countertransference?
There are a few things that therapists can do to deal with transference and countertransference in a healthy way:
Acknowledge transference and countertransference when they occur.
Acknowledging transference and countertransference can help to prevent these dynamics from interfering with the therapeutic process.
If the therapist is aware of their own potential for countertransference, they can be more careful to maintain a professional distance.
Similarly, if the client is aware of their own transference, they can be more conscious of how they are relating to the therapist.
Acknowledging transference and countertransference can help to keep these dynamics in check, ensuring that the therapy remains focused on the present.
Talk about transference and countertransference.
Talking about transference and countertransference can help to diffuse these feelings and prevent them from interfering with therapy.
If the client is feeling positively towards the therapist, the therapist can talk about how this may be affecting the way they are relating to each other.
Similarly, if the therapist is feeling negatively toward the patient, the therapist can talk about how this may be impacting the therapy.
Talking about transference and countertransference can help to keep these feelings in check and prevent them from interfering with the therapeutic process.
Use transference and countertransference as data.
Transference and countertransference can provide valuable information about the client and the therapist.
If the client is feeling positively towards the therapist, this may be a sign that they feel safe and comfortable in the therapeutic relationship.
Similarly, if the client is feeling negatively towards the therapist, this may be a sign that they feel unsafe or uncomfortable in the therapeutic relationship.
If the therapist is feeling positively towards the client, this may be a sign that they are empathizing with the client.
Similarly, if the therapist is feeling negatively towards the client, this may be a sign that they are not empathizing with the client.
Transference and countertransference can provide valuable data about the client-therapist relationship which can be used to improve therapy.
Work with a supervisor.
Working with a supervisor can help therapists to deal with transference and countertransference in a healthy way.
Supervisors can provide guidance on how to deal with these dynamics in a way that is helpful for the patient.
Supervisors can also help therapists to understand their own transference and countertransference, which can be helpful in preventing these dynamics from interfering with therapy.
Read also: What Is the Primacy Effect
The takeaway
In the field of psychology, transference refers to the unconscious projection of our emotions and thoughts onto others. This can happen in our personal relationships, but it can also occur in the therapeutic setting.
Countertransference is when a therapist projects their own emotions and thoughts onto their patient. Both of these phenomena can interfere with the therapeutic process and make it difficult for patients to achieve their goals.
However, by understanding transference and countertransference, therapists can learn to recognize and manage these reactions in themselves and their patients.
With this knowledge, they can create a safe and supportive environment that will help patients to heal and grow.
