Countertransference

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Countertransference is a term in psychotherapy, denoting a condition where the therapist, as a result of the therapy sessions, begins to transfer the therapist's own repressed feelings to the patient. It is also defined as the entire body of feelings that the therapist has toward the patient.

Countertransference is defined in opposition to transference, where a person in therapy begins to transfer feelings (whether positive or negative) to the therapist. For example, the person in therapy may begin to look at the therapist as if the therapist were the patient's mother, transferring their feelings for the real mother to the therapist. This is considered a positive sign in psychoanalytic therapy, showing that the patient is making progress.

In On Becoming a Counselor, Eugene Kennedy states that countertransference has the potential to be present in any counseling relationship. He states that it is often one of the biggest challenges for a new counselor to overcome, and while there is no way to totally overcome the problem of counter-transference (since as Humans we all form opinions of others) learning to not let countertransference affect a counseling relationship is key. The mantra "only connect" is often associated with this effect.

Countertransference can also be seen as a useful phenomenon for the therapist because it can allow them to gain insight into the kinds of emotions and reactions the client often tends to induce in others. In this way, the countertransference is a welcomed phenomenon which can prove invaluable to the clinical relationship. In this way, countertransference is related to the Freduian concept of projective identification, a defense mechanism in which the client projects onto and induces their own inner experience within the clinician.

[edit] References

On Becoming A Counselor, Revised Edition : A Basic Guide for Nonprofessional Counselors and Other Helpers by Eugene Kennedy