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Countertransference: Possibilities for good?
Positive and negative countertransference come in two varieties. In a therapeutic relationship with a client, positive countertransference may be helpful in some ways. As an illustration, consider a therapist who forbids their patient from expressing anger because they have a history of violence in the family. In the event that it goes undetected, this subjective type of countertransference might be harmful.Another type of activated countertransference is one that is very negatively biased. Intense hatred or strong negative emotions suggest that the patient holds a special place in the therapist’s mental life. The burden and allure of a need to act are carried by activated countertransference.In therapy, this refers to a client projecting their feelings about someone else onto their therapist; transference is the act of doing this. Redirecting a therapist’s emotions toward the patient is known as countertransference.Countertransference itself is not bad, despite its negative connotations. Counselors often find themselves in trouble because they ignore countertransference. For instance, having a sexual relationship with a client while violating ethical standards is probably the biggest taboo in counseling.
What type of countertransference occurs most frequently?
Disliking a client for no apparent or obvious reason is one of the most typical symptoms of countertransference (Lambert et al. The therapist should use this as an opportunity to reflect on personal morals, convictions, and feelings related to the client’s traits and previous relationships. When a client reminds a therapist of her own child (or another person she feels protective of in her life), countertransference can occur. One typical example of this is when the therapist feels protective and parental toward the client. A client who irritates you is another illustration.The term countertransference should only be used to describe the analyst’s conscious reactions that arise from the preconscious as a result of the patient’s ongoing transferences; empathy should be used to describe a perspective in which the analyst uses ongoing countertransference reactions for a dot.Transference happens when the person receiving help (in this case, the directee) projects onto the helper certain thoughts, feelings, or wishes that stem from a prior experience, typically from childhood.Transference is when someone projects their feelings for one person onto another. It typically occurs when a patient projects their feelings toward a third party onto their therapist during a therapy session. When a therapist countertransfers feelings to the patient, this is called countertransference.In counseling, what situations might there be transference and countertransference?Transference is the unintentional association between a current person and a former romantic partner. For instance, a new client you meet reminds you of a previous love interest. Countertransference is reacting to them with all the memories and emotions associated with that previous connection. There is only one form, though. When a therapist introduces their own experiences to the point where they lose perspective on yours, countertransference occurs. When someone’s responses to you are colored by their own emotions or personal opinions rather than being objective, this is where it is at.As an illustration, consider a therapist who discourages expression of anger in her groups because she fears anger due to her family’s history of violence. Objective countertransference: The therapist’s feelings in response to group members/clients that are induced by a group member’s behavior or personality.Proactive transference, or the client projecting their own past experiences onto the therapist. Proactive countertransference is the therapist‘s behavior or transference toward the client in the therapeutic relationship.Defensive countertransference arises from the therapist’s own conflicts which are reflected in his reactions to the patient and to the treatment. Reactive countertransferences are the therapist’s responses to the impact of strong emotions directed toward him by the patient.
What are examples of good countertransference?
Examples of countertransference include when the therapist: Offers a lot of advice instead of listening to the client’s experience. Pushed the client to take action the client doesn’t feel ready for. Wants to relate outside of the therapy room. When a therapist identifies with someone from the patient’s past instead of the patient themselves, they are said to be engaging in complementary countertransference and rekindling an earlier connection.Positive countertransference might be characterized by intense liking/loving of the patient, desire to be with the patient, and the idealization of the patient’s efforts in psychotherapy. Erotic countertransference is a common manifestation, as is an intense maternal countertransference.Despite its negative connotations, countertransference itself is not a bad thing. Rather, it’s the ignoring of countertransference that gets counselors into trouble. For example, the ultimate counseling taboo likely involves crossing ethical boundaries and having a sexual relationship with a client.What is erotic transference and countertransference? Erotic transference is a term used to describe the feelings of love and the fantasies of a sexual or sensual nature that a client experiences about their therapist. Erotic countertransference is about the therapist’s feelings about their client.
Why is countertransference good?
An awareness of transference and countertransference helps the client see their relationships as repairable, which will ultimately help them approach life with a newfound hope. The therapist can use transference to support their client in developing healthier social and relational interactions across the board. Transference may be positive or negative. Both types can benefit therapy in different ways. Positive transference can lead the person in therapy to view the therapist as kind, concerned, or otherwise helpful.Idealizing transference emerges in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis when the patient attributes highly positive or even perfect qualities to the therapist or analyst.Positive Transference Transference can sometimes be a good thing. An example of positive transference is when you apply enjoyable aspects of your past relationships to the relationship with your therapist. This can have a positive outcome because you see your therapist as caring, wise, and concerned about you.Transference can also happen in a healthcare setting. For example, transference in therapy happens when a patient attaches anger, hostility, love, adoration, or a host of other possible feelings onto their therapist or doctor.An example of positive transference is when you apply enjoyable aspects of your past relationships to the relationship with your therapist. This can have a positive outcome because you see your therapist as caring, wise, and concerned about you.
What is positive vs negative countertransference?
Positive: The therapist is over-supportive, trying too hard to befriend their client, and disclosing too much. This can damage the therapeutic relationship. Negative: The therapist acts out against uncomfortable feelings in a negative way, including being overly critical and punishing or rejecting the client. Examples of Transference in Therapy Opponent — If the client is transferring feelings associated with an adversarial relationship, such as a troubled relationship with a parent or sibling, the client will argue, become defensive, and may oppose recommendations the therapist makes.An obvious sign of transference is when a client directs emotions at the therapist. For example, if a client cries and accuses the therapist of hurting their feelings for asking a probing question, it may be a sign that a parent hurt the client regarding a similar question/topic in the past.With positive transference, the person receiving therapy redirects positive qualities onto the therapist. They may see the therapist as caring or helpful. With negative transference, the person receiving therapy transfers negative qualities onto the therapist. For example, they may see the therapist as hostile.Transference can help the therapist understand why that fear of intimacy exists. They can then work toward resolving it. This may help the patient develop healthy, long-lasting relationships.
How do therapists use countertransference?
Countertransference, which occurs when a therapist transfers emotions to a person in therapy, is often a reaction to transference, a phenomenon in which the person in treatment redirects feelings for others onto the therapist. The steps in dealing with transference It is a matter for awareness, not reflection, as the therapist tunes into feelings that come up. The therapist steps back, disidentifies from the affective reaction and views it more objectively. The therapist identifies the client’s affective state.When the psychologist mirrors, he or she is giving attention, recognition, and acknowledgement of the person. If the patient has a deep need to feel special, than the therapist’s interest in understanding, and the provision of undivided attention, is reparative.