Psychodynamic Transference

Today, the majority of counselors and therapists operate from an integrative standpoint; that is, they are open to “various ways of integrating diverse theories and techniques” (Corey, 2009b, p. 449). In fact, a survey in Psychotherapy Networker (2007) found that over 95% of respondents proclaimed to practice an integrative approach (cited in Corey, 2009b, p. 449). Corey (2009a; 2009b) explains that no one theory is comprehensive enough to attend to all aspects of the human – thought, feeling, and behavior. Therefore, in order to work with clients on all three of these levels, which Corey (2009b) asserts is necessary for the

Joel himself is the primary element in ensuring the success of his therapy. Therefore it is vital that his therapist pay specific attention to the frame of reference Joel fosters, in addition to his utilization of inner and outer resources. Similarly, it is of upmost importance that Joel’s therapist display an empathic understanding of the experiences and worries Joel is undergoing whilst ensuring a non-judgemental and genuine perspective is communicated. It is also important for Joel’s therapist to remember that she is a guest within Joel’s world of experience (Cox, Bachkirova & Clutterbuck, 2010)

Once upon a time being a therapist was considered a calling. The images of a counselor sitting back in their comfy cushioned chairs listening to hours and hours of patient's dilemmas, heartaches and mental health issues have been replaced with the hard cold facts that therapists today are

Transference – clients unconscious shifting to the analyst of feelings and fantasies that are reactions to significant others in the client’s past. Involves the unconscious repetition of the past in the present

However, counter-transference is caused by the counsellors own limitations which might include the counsellor unresolved emotional issues, but a counsellor can use this to their advantage and draw out information that is important to the clients therapeutic process.

Vicarious Trauma and Countertransference Vicarious Trauma (VT) and Countertransference (CT) can occur throughout an individual’s career, working in the mental health field. VT occurs when mental health professionals are exposed to stress and trauma while treating clients (James & Gilliland, 2017). VT may be connected to a counselor’s engagement of empathy with clients (Trippany, Kress, & Wilcoxon, 2004). CT occurs when counselors take traits and behaviors of their past and place them on their clients (James & Gilliland, 2017). Mental health professionals are at higher risk for experiencing VT and CT (Newell & MacNeil, 2010).

Over identify, desire to protect, rescue fantasies, competiveness with parents, and befriending are just a few of the counter-transference response and behaviors therapists have reported experiencing when counseling children and adolescents. Therapists who also work with abused women have also reported instances of counter-transference responses such as reluctance to explore abuse- related issues, identification with the victim or the abuser, vicarious

Freud then discusses, “The phenomenon of thought transference, which is very close to telepathy..”(page 49). Thought transference can be described as the mental process in a person, the ideas, emotional states, and conative impulses, which can be transferred to someone without using any communication, signs or languages. Freud relates cases of patients who have performed thought transference they include, a man who is in love with his sister and he wants to marry her, a woman who couldn’t conceive children with her husband and that was what was keeping her from happiness, and a young man who was abusive and wanted a wife but just wasn’t happy with what he had. Freud believes these patients went through thought transference, and those patients went through dream interpretation and psychoanalysis in general assist occultism(page 58). Freud’s next part of his lecture was about a long case study involving “Herr P.” which was another one of Freud’s patients that was experiencing thought transference, he was having erotic relations with women, because of this patient Freud does believe thought transference does exist and people are experiencing it. Freud goes on to tell another story then brings it all back to psychoanalysis, which is where it all started from.

Britzman and Pitt (1996) described transference as impression of unresolved past conflict with others that is projected into the new interaction and relationship. Usher (2013) suggested that transference occurs when the client makes fabricated connection to the therapist. Freud proposed that transference occurs unconsciously in two ways: Template is when the client attempts to categorises all their later relationship based on the earlier relationship; and repetition compulsion is when the client replays traumatic past relationship or situation (Kahn, 2003). For example, if a client has a critical mother, then, they will categorise all women of certain age and characteristics to that template. And client sees the therapist as the critical mother and repetition causes them to act in certain ways to get the reaction they want from the therapist. Freud found that transference occurs everywhere, and it is not isolated to just therapy setting.

In addition, Rizq, R. (2005) defines projective identification as a development within the therapeutic process resulting in feelings and thoughts conceivably affecting someone else and maybe reversed from client to counsellor as well. Alternatively, the counsellor may have unconsciously brought, proactive countertransference, Clarkson, P, (2002) to the process. Proactive countertransference is defined as thoughts, feelings, and the ambience that are introduced into the process by the counsellor. However, in saying this, if the counsellor was consciously aware of this within the process they may effectively be able to develop or could consider using this in helping them understand the client. Additional attributes of the counsellor were wounds that appeared in the counsellor 's thoughts, (a) mistrust of others, and (b) a presumption that relationships fall apart due to hiding their secrets. This also infers by placing trust in a relationship we are likely to be deceived and deserted.

There are many emerging influences that shape both my professional and personal development as a practitioner. Accessing a vast array of life experiences, contributes richly to the evolution of my individual approach. Aptly noted as “Counsellors and therapists are influenced by their own experience or story as they develop or adopt their theoretical stance”(Milner and Palmer, 2001, P. 17)). Ongoing instruction at college and engagement with fellow students continue to prompt further learning, allowing for openness and shared knowledge. This facilitates an atmosphere of mutual exchange which often flows spontaneously. In addition personal research undertaken around theoretical subject matter expands and enhances understanding. Attending training and workshops in Transactional Analysis, Emotion Focused Therapy, Neurobiology of Anxiety and Trauma and Seren work with the survivors of sexual abuse, have promoted exploration, development and growth. Discovering scientific aspects of neurobiology and its positive affects, affirm the effectiveness of the therapeutic engagement in counselling. Details consolidating these findings are described

Transference and countertransference – the new terms to me. I have learned today that sometimes it can impede session or interfere the professional relationships; it can also lead to bias (when you give advice, reflect on these memories, project your feelings and fulfill your needs rather than being helpful to the client).

This transfer-countertransference moments are when clients and therapist can understand motivations, intentions and dynamics in the session. Countertransference reactions are also sometimes the only way

In my seminar “Counseling Skills in Human Relations”, which was presented by Dr. Johnson, I worked closely within my team, and practiced effective counseling strategies. After reading “Helping Skills” by Clara Hill, as well as the textbook “Counseling and Psychotherapy”, by Capuzzi, & Stauffer (2016), which was utilized in Dr. Papas’ course “Theoretical Foundations in Human Relations”, I learned how to apply theoretical foundations of Freud’s Psychoanalysis, Kierkegaard’s Existentialism, and Jung, Maslow, and Rogers’s Humanism. In Hill’s text, she describes facilitative aspects of counseling, problems that may arise between the counselor and the client, and how to become an efficient helper. Hill’s three stage model on exploration, insight, and action explains how to effectively coach a client in order to heal from traumatic events.

1)Carl Rogers (1951 in Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014) initially termed nondirective therapy that gives emphasis to the significance that the client is in charge as counselors do not influence change. Counselors are not unresponsive to client’s contribution to making sure the essential circumstances are favorable for the development and progress of the client. Therefore, Rogers suggests that a total non-directivity is unattainable. Amid the counselor’s question, thoughts and choices posed to the client the counselor cannot help but incorporate themselves into the healing processes of collaboration. However, all therapists must have a compelling reason that they can elucidate for the interventions they choose to use and when and why they decide to use them. Perhaps a better course than trying to remain exclusively nondirective would be to consider how best to be directive in the service of the therapy. The treatment basis includes “congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy” (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, pp. 158-159). The person-centered therapy nondirective attention is new to clients who have expectations that counselors are the professionals that may resolve their difficulties for them (Seligman & Reichenberg, 2014, p. 165). Therefore, while trying to be nondirective, counselors may overlook collecting the sufficient client details that may deter them to reach their objectives. Similarly, counselors may put a significant amount of overconfidence in the client