Counter- Transference
Counter-transference
Karen A. Aubrey MFCC/597 A- Internship A June 25, 2011 Amber Hamilton
Counter-transference Counter-transference can be defined as the occurrence of unresolved personal feelings of the therapist that are projected unto his or her client. Sigmund Freud coined the term counter-transference in 1910, who viewed counter-transference as the result of the client influencing unconscious feelings of the therapist (Hayes, Gelso, & Hummel, 2011). Research and Common Counter-Transference Issues Sigmund Freud believed that counter-transference was problematic and needed to be managed by the therapist. In his book entitled Future Prospects of Psychoanalytic Therapy, Freud stated that the therapist must learn to recognize this therapeutic occurrence in himself or herself to counteract counter-transference (Freud, 1910). Counter-transference was viewed negatively by the counseling and mental health communities for several decades. Marriage and family therapist were taught to view counter-transference as a prohibited or unacceptable occurrence. “It became something to be done away with, not something to be examined or even used beneficially. The good analyst was, in fact, thought to be capable of maintaining objectivity and keeping personal conflicts out of the therapeutic process” (Hayes et al., 2011, p. 88). It was not until the 1950s that therapist begin to recognize that counter-transference could be beneficial when properly recognized and dealt with in a therapeutic manner. Today counter-transference is viewed as any and all reactions that a therapist may encounter in relation to the client- therapist relationship and process. “All reactions are important, all should be studied and understood to legitimize counter-transference when viewed as an object of self-investigation for the theraptist” (Hayes et al., 2011). The foundation of any therapeutic relationship must be built on trust and respect in order to form a working
Karen A. Aubrey MFCC/597 A- Internship A June 25, 2011 Amber Hamilton
Counter-transference Counter-transference can be defined as the occurrence of unresolved personal feelings of the therapist that are projected unto his or her client. Sigmund Freud coined the term counter-transference in 1910, who viewed counter-transference as the result of the client influencing unconscious feelings of the therapist (Hayes, Gelso, & Hummel, 2011). Research and Common Counter-Transference Issues Sigmund Freud believed that counter-transference was problematic and needed to be managed by the therapist. In his book entitled Future Prospects of Psychoanalytic Therapy, Freud stated that the therapist must learn to recognize this therapeutic occurrence in himself or herself to counteract counter-transference (Freud, 1910). Counter-transference was viewed negatively by the counseling and mental health communities for several decades. Marriage and family therapist were taught to view counter-transference as a prohibited or unacceptable occurrence. “It became something to be done away with, not something to be examined or even used beneficially. The good analyst was, in fact, thought to be capable of maintaining objectivity and keeping personal conflicts out of the therapeutic process” (Hayes et al., 2011, p. 88). It was not until the 1950s that therapist begin to recognize that counter-transference could be beneficial when properly recognized and dealt with in a therapeutic manner. Today counter-transference is viewed as any and all reactions that a therapist may encounter in relation to the client- therapist relationship and process. “All reactions are important, all should be studied and understood to legitimize counter-transference when viewed as an object of self-investigation for the theraptist” (Hayes et al., 2011). The foundation of any therapeutic relationship must be built on trust and respect in order to form a working
References: Freud, S. (1910). Future prospects of psychoanalytic therapy. In J. Strachey (Ed.), The standard ed Hogarth Gil, E., & Rubin, L. (2005). Counter-transference play: Informing and enhancing therapist Retrieved from http://University of Phoenix Library Hays, J., Gelso, C., & Hummel, A. (2011). Managing counter-transference. American Psychological Association, 48(1), 88-97. doi:10.1037/a0022182 Ligiero, D., & Gelso, C. (2002). Counter- transference, attachment, and the working alliance: