To better understand countertransference, it is crucial to address transference first. The term transference was coined by Sigmund Freud to denominate the way clients “transfer” feeling from important persons in their early lives, onto the therapist. Greenson (1965) defined transference as “the experiencing of feelings, drives, attitudes, fantasies, and defenses toward a person in the present, which are inappropriate to the person and are a repetition, a displacement of reactions originating in regard to significant persons of early childhood” (p. 156). Assumptions from the clients’ are based on the client’s experiences with, assumptions regarding and other important relationships, such as childhood relations with parents. Countertransference on the other hand is the response that is elicited in the therapist by the patient’s unconscious transference communications. Very often, it includes both feelings and associated thoughts. According to Gabbard (2004), it is most widely used to refer to the therapist’s cognitive-affective responses to the client (as cited in Cartwright, 2011). Freud conceptualized “countertransference” as arising from the client’s influence on the psychoanalyst’s unconscious feelings, a manifestation of the psychoanalyst’s unresolved issues, and a potential impediment to treatment (Storr, 1989). Countertransference can serve as a sensitive interpersonal barometer, a finely tuned instrument in the field of social interaction. For a therapist who feels irritated by a patient for no clear reason may eventually uncover subtle unconscious provocations by the patient that irritate and repel others, and thereby keep the patient unwittingly lonely and isolated. In countertransference, a therapist must take into consi... ... middle of paper ... ...d on saying that self-disclosure from the therapist may allow the client to be more in touch with their experiences and thus self-closing even more. I think after disclosing this information, the conversation started flowing in and the client would often call to remind me of our weekly appointment. Furthermore, Jampel (2010) explained that after disclosing her hearing impairment to her clients, she developed better relationship in the process. For her, not being able to hear allowed some clients to feel that she was a better listener and relate to her. I think I could relate to that statement because my client was able to move past the religion barriers and we were able to move towards our goals. She did acknowledged not hearing back from some of her clients after disclosing her impairment, because those clients didn’t feel like she will be able to understand them.
Consultation in the form of supervision should occur regularly, particularly in cases where the therapist is working with trauma survivors. Most likely I will experience strong feelings of concern and anger on Betty’s behalf; therefore, I need to address any countertransference issues immediately with a supervisor so as to maintain strong professional boundaries with Betty.
This concept shares some common features with the concept of countertransference in psychoanalysis to some degree. In the therapy, the clients’ reactions and the
One aspect that wasn’t stressed enough in this theme was how often counselors should seek therapy. The more often a therapist seeks therapy, the more beneficial it can be to them. Talking more often wi...
As this book points out, and what I found interesting, the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client, can be even more important than how the therapy sessions are conducted. A therapists needs to be congruent. This is important because a client needs a sense of stability. To know what is expected from him or her while being in this transitional period of change. In some cases this congruency may be the only stability in his life, and without it, there is no way of him trusting in his t...
A hearing loss can present many obstacles in one's life. I have faced many issues throughout my life, many of which affected me deeply. When I first realized that I was hearing-impaired, I didn't know what it meant. As I grew older, I came to understand why I was different from everyone. It was hard to like myself or feel good about myself because I was often teased. However, I started to change my attitude and see that wearing hearing aids was no different than people wearing glasses to see.
They argue that therapists should consider their own motivation to self-disclose and set boundaries. The therapists should never put their own needs above the client. They make sure to point out that self discourse alone cannot affect the outcome of treatment. Self-disclosure is effective only if it is used appropriately and only if it is used when it is necessary. The amount of information disclosed and when it is disclosed is also important. Therapists should draw a clear line with the amount of intimacy to include in their therapeutic disclosure to ensure that no inappropriate boundaries are crossed. The authors suggest two rules of thumb to follow when disclosing information which include: (a) “Why do I want to say what I am about to say” and (b) “What will be the likely impact of the client” (p. 567).
Patients have the tendency to try and cure themselves alone but therapy helps substract the patient to his own influence, free his from his own desease. Therapy requires the participation of two actors and recovery cannot take place if the therapist does not understand his patient's psychology and resistance to healing.22 Freud focused on studying the opposition to healing and resistance to treatment when increasing his knowledge about unconscious forces. The therapist defines healing as the goal creating the patient's resistances. Thoses resistances to therapy can be explained as follows : the fact of being cured corresponds to a change of state. Negative reactions to treatment are thus explained by a fear of losing internal integrity and eventually disintegrating. The fear of modification is extremely strong.
In her therapy sessions, Layla will be talking to someone whose job is to listen and support her, and since she has never had this type of relationship with her parents or friends, Layla might grow extremely attached to her therapist because they fill the void left by her family and friends. Alternatively, countertransference refers the therapist’s reactions to the client based on the therapist’s own past or present conflicts and vulnerabilities (Iwamoto, 2017). If I was Layla’s therapist I would be prone to treating her in an extremely gentle, perhaps too gentle, way because I personally relate to struggling immensely during your freshman year of
...ate with their therapists. “A systematic relationship between the therapists' personal reactions to the patient and the quality of their communication, diagnostic impressions, and treatment plans” (Horvath & Greenberg, ). While positive attitudes from the therapists are more likely to result in a successful treatment, negative attitudes will not develop the necessary cooperation from the clients side to successfully reach the goal of the therapy.
Countertransference first introduced by Freud, “as a therapist’s unconscious reaction to a patient’s transference” (Dass-Brailsford, pg. 293, 2007). This concept has since become known as a normal emotional reaction to a client. This reaction that comes from the therapist is a resolved or unresolved conflict within the therapist (Dass-Brailsford, 2007). This has nothing to do with the client but something the client said or did triggered the therapist. If this goes unnoticed, it can be detrimental to the client’s recovery. The therapist may begin to overidentify with the client and lose their sense of hope (Dass-Brailsford, 2007).
The deaf community does not see their hearing impairment as a disability but as a culture which includes a history of discrimination, racial prejudice, and segregation. According to an online transcript,“Through Deaf Eyes” (Weta and Florentine films/Hott productions Inc., 2007) there are thirty-five million Americans that are hard of hearing. Out of the thirty-five million an estimated 300,000 people are completely deaf. There are ninety percent of deaf people who have hearing parents (Halpern, C., 1996). Also, most deaf parents have hearing children. With this being the exemplification, deaf people communicate on a more intimate and significant level with hearing people all their lives. “Deaf people can be found in every ethnic group, every region, and every economic class” (Weta and Florentine films/Hott productions Inc., 2007). The deaf culture and hard of hearing have plenty of arguments and divisions with living in a hearing world without sound however, that absence will be a starting point of an identity within their culture as well as the hearing culture (Weta and Florentine films/Hott productions Inc., 2007).
Becoming aware of this behavior and thought has shed light on what is important and appropriate for Alike livelihood. Her purpose of seeking therapy is to help her in the process of healing and reframing the idea of leaving school and rebuilding a social life. From a psychoanalytical perspective which dictates behavior determined by your past experiences explains the unconscious state of mine that people are unaware of. Murran, (2007) contemporary psychoanalytic concepts resonated most because of the process of organizing our thoughts. The first concept, of self explaining ways of organizing thoughts in different way to empathize with people different circumstances. Second concept is the binaries (perpetrator-victim) and the therapeutic stance in which the clinicians attempts to maintain attunement between the client and therapist experience. The third concept, suggest the involvement of enactments which transpire in the event of a client and therapist react and previous behavior or pattern that is unaware or not realize are perceived as crucial intersubjective and interpersonal structures that change is likely to occur. In regard to Alike my social identities influenced my countertransference reaction which could have easily guided this therapy in an unproductive manner taking into consideration of my reactions made me aware of the true purpose of Alike seeking psychotherapy. In our dialogue during our sessions I attempt to not focus on my needs, but rather the needs of my
Countertransference refers to occasions when the therapist responds to the client with cognitive emotional processes (i.e., expectations, beliefs or emotions) that are strongly influenced by personal experiences. These experiences can include childhood maltreatment, adult trauma or other upsetting events. Countertransference, whether positive or negative, must be monitored by the therapist as it can interfere with treatment by leading to a harmful clinical experience or processes that disrupt the treatment process (Briere & Scott, 2015).
Yalom (2005) explained transference as being “attitudes toward the therapist that had been “transferred” from earlier attitudes toward important figures in the client’s life” (p. 201). This integration paper will describe a relationship I have with a work supervisor. Followed by an explanation of how and why aspects of our interactions have been influenced by me transferring attitudes I have, regarding my grandfather, onto my supervisor. Concluding with observations I have seen in this person’s interactions with me and others that suggest transference is potentially a factor.
Three interrelated attitude of the therapist are central to the success of person-centered therapy, this include: congruence; unconditional positive regard; and empathy (Corey, 2010). Congruence represents the openness and geniuses of the therapists. Therapists who function this way does not hind behind a professional façade, and are willing to share significant emotional reactions with their clients. Unconditional positive regards refers to the therapist accepting the client totally as she or he is without disapproving particular behaviors, believes, feelings or characteristics. Therapists convey this message by their wiliness to listen without being judging, or directive. The therapist who creates a nonthreatening context allows the clients to explore and share their true feelings without fear of being judged. Empathy is the third necessary component of a therapist’s attitude. The therapist should try to see through client’s point to view, and show understanding and sensitivity to client’s feeling throughout the therapy session. When these three attitudes are conveyed by a therapist, according the Rogers, the client can freely express themselves without afraid of being