YEAR2 WEEK3 THEORY PRESENTATION Olu Oderinde YEAR2 WEEK3 THEORY PRESENTATION

Transference Counter transference Pre transference

Transference

DEFINITION The redirection to a substitute, usually a therapist, of emotions that were originally felt in childhood Oxforddictionaries.com

a phenomenon characterized by unconscious redirection of feelings from one person to another. the inappropriate repetition in the present of a relationship that was important in a person's childhood Wikipedia.org

the redirection of feelings and desires and especially of those unconsciously retained from childhood toward a new object a reproduction of emotions relating to repressed experiences, especially of childhood, and the substitution of another person ... for the original object of the repressed impulses Wikipedia.org

Sigismund Schlomo Freud 6 May 1856 – 23 September 1939 Sigmund Freud, a ‘Neurologist’ from Austria, is acknowledged as the founder of Psychoanalysis. Freud was the first to flag up the phenomena of ‘Transference’. Freud suggested that transference, in the context of a therapist/client relationship, could be explored as indicator of a clients feelings, thoughts or emotions

Transference Triggers My experience is that transference occurs in relationships of all kinds on a daily basis. Meeting a new person can trigger memories of someone or an experience from the past. This in turn can trigger feelings or emotions that can be projected onto that person. This projection is often unconscious i.e. the ‘projector’ is often unaware it is occurring. The trigger could be a facial expression, hair style/ colour, a spoken phrase, tone of voice, a mannerism, physique ect. The client may behave towards the therapist as though they are someone from their past or as though they are responsible for, or involved in, a past experience. This element of transference may help to explain why many people experience relationships with people who have identifiable similarities.

Unconscious Projection Transference can occur in very obvious and very subtle ways E.g. the client accuses the therapist of being untrustworthy, flirting or sexually suggestive, demanding, domineering, irritable, angry, competitive, uninterested... The list is endless and is totally dependent on the nature of the therapeutic relationship E.g Kohuts idealizing, mirroring or twinship. The skill of the therapist is to be able to identify transference and be aware when it occurring. B. Cooke 2012 noted that transference is usually negative consisting of ‘stuff’ the client is uncomfortable with.

COUNSELLING TUTOR

COUNTER TRANSFERENCE

Transference/ counter transference does not only apply to therapy, it applies to all of us in all our relationships (M. Kahn).

When the therapist reacts to the transference projected onto them by the client. The therapist may react as though they are the person or thing the client is projecting onto them.

Alternatively, the client’s projection may trigger ‘stuff’ in the therapist which causes the therapist to confuse feelings for the client with feelings relating to their own past.

I have learned that it can be used as an aid to therapy to help a client address issues of concern from their past.

Counter transference can be damaging to the therapeutic process if the practitioner is not skilled at being aware of the transference and how to manage it. I believe if the therapist is well trained and ethical according to the BACP ethical framework, transference can be a positive element.

PRE TRANSFERENCE

This transference occurs before the client and therapist meet This transference occurs before the client and therapist meet. However, both client and therapist have the potential to experience it

Client A woman can’t understand my man problem. A man can’t understand my woman problem. I don’t trust ‘shrinks’ i’ve seen ‘one flew over the cuckoo’s nest’ How can I talk to a stranger about private problem Why am I meeting with this counsellor when there is nothing wrong with me?

Hopefully, pre transference issues can be addressed in the early sessions by establishing an effective ‘working alliance’. This builds an ethically appropriate, mutually agreeable and realistic foundation on which to develop a therapeutic relationship which is beneficial to the client.

Therapist This had better be a full price client rather than the student discount yet again! Another referral from ‘that project’ again, I hope he or she is not expecting Mr fix it

Hopefully, pre transference issues can be addressed in the early sessions by establishing an effective ‘working alliance’. This builds an ethically appropriate, mutually agreeable and realistic foundation on which to develop a therapeutic relationship which is beneficial to the client.

For the therapist? Clinical supervision Personal therapy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYKmv wGmBVY WWW.counsellingtutor.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYKmv wGmBVY www.wikipedia.org