Three principles of the analysis of transference are proposed: known as a process of change, redirection or alteration, transference can be a very effective implement in psychotherapy. With the research and opinions of therapist and journalist ranging from Ryan Howes Ph.D., Mark Dombeck Ph.D., Dr. Henriette T. Glatzer and Dr. Angela Molnos, there will be in depth definitions, explanations and reasoning as to why and how transference works.
There are numerous examples of transference reactions and how it takes place in group psychotherapy. Being recognized as a universal mental mechanism transference can easily emerge in group treatment. There are some group therapists who agree that transference is a primary mechanism in group psychotherapy and one from which all other therapeutic dynamics stem.
Transference in Group Therapy
Transference means: the transferring of something from one place or person to another or the change from one person or place to another that happens when something is transferred. In psychoanalysis or other psychotherapy the process in which somebody unconsciously redirects feelings about something onto a new object, often the analyst or therapist. A few of the Journalist that have written about transference in group therapy are Ryan Howes Ph.D., Mark Dombeck Ph.D., Dr. Henriette T. Glatzer and Dr. Angela Molnos.
Beginning with an article written by Henriette T. Glatzer, I’ve learned that in her opinion and based on a survey of group literature as well as clinical observation, that there are numerous examples of transference reactions in group psychotherapy. It is also stated in this article that the use of transference is one of the most effective implements.
In this journal of transference written by Gl...
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... useful. There are some clients and therapist who can easily use transference as a healing mechanism and a way to recognize prejudices and changes that the client may be unaware of. As with every group process it can have its negative effects as well, depending on the client and or the situation. Transference, if handled incorrectly can easily bring on stereotypes and assumptions that can prevent the process of healing and understanding.
The reason that I chose the topic of transference is because of the field of human services that I am currently working in. I have conducted groups in therapy as well as participated in them previously. Having insight on the changes that take place within a person can be very helpful. I am very interested in learning how and why transference takes place in group therapy, as well as how to handle each individual case as they occur.
In classical psychoanalysis, transference was seen as a distortion in the therapeutic relationship which occurred when the client unconsciously misperceived the therapist as having personality characteristics similar to someone in his/her past, while countertransference referred to the analyst's unconscious, neurotic reaction to the patient's transference (Freud, 1910/1959). Freud believed that countertransference impedes therapy, and that the analyst must recognize his/her countertransference in order to overcome it. In recent years, some schools of psychotherapy have expanded the definition of countertransference to include all conscious and unconscious feelings or attitudes a therapists has toward a client, holding that countertransference feelings are potentially beneficial to treatment (Singer & Luborsky, 1977). Using more specific language, Corey (1991) defines countertransference as the process of seeing oneself in the client, of overidentifying with the client or of meeting needs through the client.
The therapeutic process is an opportunity for both healing and restoration, as well as discovering new ways of being. Although exposed to a variety of psychological theories, I narrowed my theoretical orientation to a relational psychodynamic approach, drawing on attachment theory and Intersubjective Systems Theory (IST). IST describes how the subjective experiences, both embodied and affective, of an individual becomes the manner of organization, or way of being, in which the person operates in the world relationally. It is through this process of transference and countertransference, the unconscious ways of being can become explicit and through the collaborative effort of therapist and client, new ways of organizing the relational world can be discovered. I pay particular attention to enactments, which expose intra-psychic dynamics between the therapist and client, as opportunities for relational remodeling.
One objective is to utilize the most powerful tool at psychotherapy’s disposal; the group experience. By one individual sharing their experience within the group, the other members are able to identify their similar experiences and work toward their own growth. Group therapy also increases self-awareness of clients in order for them to think introspectively in order to make a change in behaviors, increases social comfort, allowing exploration of new behaviors, provide and obtain support, develop communication skills, and promote interactions with others using truth and
The therapist would then interpret this information, which consists of teaching, pointing out and explaining what the therapist is noticing through this free association (Corey, 2013). One of the key factors in a therapeutic process is the client-therapist relationship. Without this relationship, transference cannot be assessed.
Dr. Kleeper having called this process magic has reminded me of my work with students and what I call light bulb moments. In essence, the light bulb moment is when a student’s eyes light up and their understanding of a concept has truly been internalized. Therefore, when I hear about the magic that can happen, I imagine that it is when the client has realized that they have the internal wisdom and power to truly shift their own lives. If this is true, I look forward to being a part of this type of process. Lastly, as I began to look into transpersonal therapy, the possibilities of the varied methods clients could have access to be very exciting for me. Methods include meditation or prayer, guided visualizations and altered states of being (Rowan, 2002). I hope to be able to ethically incorporate various types of counseling methods and styles such as these and also continue to invest in my own personal and professional growth, just as my potential clients are investing in their own
In B. L. Duncan, S. D. Miller, B.E. Wampold, & M.A. Hubble (Eds.), The heart and soul of change: Delivering what works in therapy (2nd ed., pp. 143-166). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
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.
The second stage in the psychodynamic therapy process is, the transference stage. In this stage the development of treatment is set and now it is the patient’s time to let their feelings out. The patient expresses those feelings, emotions, fears, and desires to the therapist without having to worry about censorship. The feelings and behavior of the patient become more pronounced and become a vital part of the treatment itself. During this stage the therapist could experience and better understand of the patient’s past and how it impacted their behavior in the
Group therapy is considered one of the most resourceful forms of therapy. The benefits to group therapy can be both cost-effective and a great means of support (Corey, Corey & Corey, 2014). The process of experiencing ideas and viewpoints expressed by your peers allows group members to become more susceptible to the counseling procedure. Group counseling also helps individuals to feel a sense of belonging due to similar situations and experiences shared by the group. The sense of support from group members can be an excellent means towards developing long-lasting relationships and developing communication skills needed to move forward during the counseling phase. In this paper, I will discuss my experiences throughout the group-counseling phase.
In the preparation phase, the therapist starts to teach the client some self-care techniques that could guide the client to control his/her emotions (Bartson, 2011). Self-care techniques are also very helpful in guiding the clients’ emotions during and between sessions (Bartson, 2011). In this stage of the therapy, the therapist is able to thoroughly explain the therapy to the patient in the aspect of the process, expectations during and after therapy (Bartson, 2011). Trust is usually developed in this phase of the therapy between the therapist and the client (Bartson,
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).
Furthermore, my goal is to let client fix their problems on their own through insight and guidance from the therapist. I envision a successful therapeutic process being when a client follows their goals and achieves positive outcomes in their lives. I seek to gain a therapeutic process with my clients by building rapport, trust, and helping them gain insight. When my clients are stuck and need motivation, I plan to remind them about their goals and the positive things that will come with change. If family is important to a client, informing the client about their family and their happiness may help motivate them to continue to
Transference and counter transference is one of most important aspects of treatment between patient and practitioner. In a clinical setting we do not always have the opportunity to have consecutive treatments with the same patient and as a result may not be able to acknowledge or notice these occurrences. It is not often that I have the opportunity to see a patient on a regular basis or even twice for that matter. As a result, it is not possible for me to notice or recognize any transference that the patient my have towards me. At times however, I clearly know the impose counter-transference & boundaries issues which patient and I experience.
Understanding the counseling session from the client’s perspective is a very important aspect in the development of a therapeutic relationship. A clinician must be an excellent listener, while being to pay attention to the client’s body language, affect and tone. The dynamics in the counseling session that is beneficial to the client include the recognition of the pain that the client is feeling. The detrimental part of this includes a misunderstanding of the real issues, a lack of consideration of the cultural aspects of the client, and a lack of clinical experience or listening skills. In this presentation, we will discuss the positive and negative aspects of the counseling session from the client’s perspective which includes the client’s attitudes, feelings, and emotions of the counseling session. We will next examine the propensity of the client to reveal or not reveal information to the counselor, and how transference, and counter-transference can have an effect on the counselor-client relationship.
In reflection on my learning experience in the group class, I have gained clarity on what sorts of competencies of facilitating group therapy, as well as in what areas social workers and students tend to feel most strong in my practice. Regarding my specific gains in competencies, I feel that I learned the most and was most likely to gain specific group facilitating competencies at the weekly class. Learning in group class is taught me the tools to use to work with groups therapy, communities and also with individuals through the process of changes. In this past three months I think a lot of opportunities have been created to shadowing with (beside and behind) and being a part of group members to learn. In addition, this class has taught me about the skills and how effectively help