Transference occurs when a person redirects some of their feelings or desires for another person to an entirely different person. One example of transference is
when you observe characteristics of your father in a new boss
. You attribute fatherly feelings to this new boss. They can be good or bad feelings.
What are signs of transference in therapy?
- An unreasonable dislike for the client or excessive positive feelings about the client.
- Becoming over-emotional and preoccupied with the client's case between sessions.
- Dreading the therapy session or feeling uncomfortable during the session.
What are examples of countertransference?
- inappropriately disclosing personal information.
- offering advice.
- not having boundaries.
- developing strong romantic feelings toward you.
- being overly critical of you.
- being overly supportive of you.
- allowing personal feelings or experiences to get in the way of your therapy.
What are the three types of transference?
- Positive.
- Negative.
- Sexualized.
How do you recognize transference?
One tell-tale sign of transference is
when your feelings or reactions seem bigger than they should be
. You don't just feel frustrated, you feel enraged. You don't just feel hurt, you feel deeply wounded in a way that confirms your most painful beliefs.
Is countertransference always bad?
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.
How do you identify transference and countertransference?
Transference is subconsciously associating a person in the present with a past relationship. For example, you meet a new client who reminds you of a former lover.
Countertransference is responding to them with all the thoughts and feelings attached to that past relationship
.
How common is transference?
Transference is
a common occurrence among humans
, and it may often occur in therapy, but it does not necessarily imply a mental health condition. Transference can also occur in various situations outside of therapy and may form the basis for certain relationship patterns in everyday life.
How do you deal with transference?
- Ensure you are aware of own countertransference.
- Attend to client transference patterns from the start.
- Notice resistance to coaching.
- Pick up on cues that may be defences.
- Follow anxieties.
- Spot feelings and wishes beneath those anxieties.
Can a therapist tell if you are attracted to them?
Perhaps because of the longstanding taboo associated with client/therapist sexual intimacy (and the results of such a relationship to the patient, which include feelings of ambivalence, guilt, isolation, sexual confusion and an inability to trust), psychologists have been
reluctant
to reveal or examine their sexual …
What's the difference between transference and projection?
Projection and transference are very similar. They both involve you attributing emotions or feelings to a person who doesn't actually have them. The difference between the two is
where the misattributions occur
. Projection occurs when you attribute a behavior or feeling you have about a person onto them.
Is transference a defense mechanism?
Psychology behind defense mechanisms: The dangers of projection and transference (Part 2 of 4)
Projection is a common defense mechanism that causes more harm than good
. This is closely linked to transference, and the two can wreak havoc on an individual's mental health and interpersonal relationships.
Do therapists experience transference?
In most cases, the client experiences unconscious transference and is unaware that they are doing it. The client's feelings transfer onto you and may be positive or negative.
Transference in therapy is normal
. Expect to experience transference in counseling and discuss any concerns you have with your supervisor.
What types of transference can you name?
- Paternal transference. This form of transference occurs when a person views another person as a father figure. …
- Maternal transference. …
- Sibling transference. …
- Non-familial transference.
What is negative transference in psychology?
in psychoanalysis,
a patient's transfer onto the analyst or therapist of feelings of anger or hostility that the patient originally felt toward parents or other significant individuals during childhood
.
What does countertransference feel like?
Recognizing Countertransference. Signs of countertransference in therapy can include a variety of behaviors, including
excessive self-disclosure on the part of the therapist
or an inappropriate interest in irrelevant details from the life of the person in treatment.
