The
term countertransference is used in a variety of ways and for the past few days
I have been thinking about using this term to refer all of the reactions the therapist
experiences in the course of therapy. Is something lost in using the term so broadly?
I
am reminded of Otto Fenichel’s definition of transference as “misunderstanding
the present in terms of the past.” This is actually quite close to the
way we usually understand transference in Cognitive Therapy (as times when the
client’s responses to the therapist are based on preconceptions developed
in emotionally important relationships). I realize that I usually think of countertransference
in similar terms, as being a time when the therapist’s reactions are based
on the therapist’s preconceptions developed in the therapist’s emotionally
important relationships.
Would
we gain something by drawing a clear distinction between the times when my reactions
to a client are due to my “misunderstanding the client in terms of my own
past”, and the times when my reactions are simply a reaction to what the
client is saying and doing? My inclination would be to reserve the term countertransference
for the former situation (assuming that I didn’t come up with a more cognitive-behavioral-sounding
term to use).
It
seems that one would handle the two situations somewhat differently. If I become
aggravated with a client due to my own distortions, I need to recognize this and
handle it well enough that it doesn’t disrupt therapy. However, my reactions
probably reveal more about my psyche than they reveal about the client. They may
turn out to be useful in therapy but they are more likely to be an impediment.
On
the other hand, if my aggravation is primarily a response to the client’s
words and actions and is not strongly influenced by my own distortions, then my
reactions may provide some insight into how others experience the client. Our
interaction may be replicating some of the interpersonal problems the client experiences
in real life and thus provide us with an opportunity to understand the problems
and/or intervene in the here-and-now interaction within therapy. I still need
to recognize my reactions and handle them so that they do not disrupt therapy
but they may also provide us with a valuable opportunity. Donald N. Bersoff,
Ethical Conflicts in Psychology
Ethical Decision Making, Therapeutic Boundaries, and Communicating Using
Online Technology and Cellular Phones
- Yonan, J., Bardick, A. D., and Willmet, J. H. (2011). Ethical Decision Making, Therapeutic Boundaries, and Communicating Using Online Technology and Cellular Phones. Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 45(4). p. 307-326.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Article References:
Ito, J. R. (2014). Review of Ethics for psychologists: A casebook approach [Review of the book Ethics for psychologists: A casebook approach, by L. Tien, A. Davis, T. A. Arnold & G. A. H. Benjamin]. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 5(4), 383–384.
Kim, S., & Rutherford, A. (2015). From seduction to sexism: Feminists challenge the ethics of therapist–client sexual relations in 1970s america.History of Psychology, 18(3), 283–296.
Pizer, B. (2017). “Why can’t we be lovers?” When the price of love is loss of love: Boundary violations in a clinical context.Psychoanalytic Psychology, 34(2), 163–168.
Summers, F. (2017). Sexual relationships between patient and therapist: Boundary violation or collapse of the therapeutic space?Psychoanalytic Psychology, 34(2), 175–181. The article above contains foundational information. Articles below contain optional updates.
Ethics CEU QUESTION
19 What is Otto Fenichel’s definition of transference(referenced in - Bersoff, Donald N., Ph.D., "Ethical Conflicts in Psychology." American Psychological Association, Washington DC, 1999.)? To select
and enter your answer go to Ethics CE Test.
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