Countertransference and Play Therapy By: Amanda Gurock, LICSW, PLADC

Definition of Countertransference Countertransference: The projecting of a counsellor’s experiences, values and repressed emotions that are awakened by identification with the client’s experiences, feelings and situation that affect the dynamics of a counselling relationship. EX: Divorce and custody issue of your client

History of Countertransference This term was coined by Freud in 1910: he viewed it as a personal problem of the analyst Jung: cautioned again countertransference because the ‘cases of counter-transference when the analyst really cannot let go of the patient...both fall into the same dark hole of unconsciousness’ leading to a “chaotic situation.” Middle years: Countertransference is no longer viewed as a interference but rather is considered a source of vital confirmation. Paula Heimann stated 'analyst's countertransference is not only part and parcel of the analytic relationship, but it is the patient's creation, it is part of the patient's personality'.

History of Countertransference Late 20th Century viewed Countertransference as having to distinguish between what your reactions to the patient are telling you about his psychology and what they are merely expressing about your own The 21st Century has led to transference and countertransference being dependent on one another. Both are used to help the client and to make everyone aware of their feelings. It means that it is “jointly created” between the treater and the patient.

Transference and Countertransference “Transference” refers to certain unconsciously redirected feelings, fears, or emotions from a client towards the counsellor that actually stems from past feelings and interactions with others and is transferred into the current counselling relationship.  COMMON ASPECTS: Transference and countertransference are natural projective behaviors and are to be expected in the counselling relationship. The feelings that are unconsciously projected in transference and countertransference are very real, come from the center of ones being and are based upon past experiences with other people and/or events that have combined to formulate an individual’s mental models or schemas.  There is always a level of transference and counter transference, as therapy is a relationship, us as therapists have a vested interest in our role and want to provide a valuable intervention, we care. 

Examples of Transference -Anxiety and social isolation may lead to the therapist being central in a client’s life; as such they may be one of their only social contacts -Reduced opportunities for romantic interests (Asperger’s, LD, etc.) -People with ‘Borderline Personality Disorder’ or very difficult interpersonal relationship styles, where they shift rapidly from loving and hating and see self and others as ‘all good’ or ‘all bad.’ This can be played out in the therapy room. -Clients may have low self-worth, and feel that you as the therapist are a good role model and over identify with you. -We may be asking clients about very difficult things that evoke negative emotions. We then may be central in re-experiencing those emotions, almost as if we are the personification of them

Potential Bad Outcomes of Transference ~We may reject the client, or fear we will. ~We May being complicit to their ‘maladaptive’ relationship patterns ~We may disclose information, which we are later uncomfortable about, so that the client is not so hurt (e.g. I am married with children) ~Difficulty in managing boundaries ~Therapist guilt ~Breakdown in therapeutic alliance

Examples of Countertransference ~Client reminds us of someone we have or had strong feelings for (positive or negative) ~We over identify with them (difficulties we have resolved in the past/similar personality/social standing/age/gender etc.)  ~Feeling parental towards client  ~Sexual attraction – just to normalize this a bit and Pope & Tabachnik, (1993)* found that the vast majority of therapists (87%) had been sexually attracted to at least one if not more of their clients.

Potential Bad Outcomes of Countertransference Blurred boundaries Inappropriate levels of disclosure that compounds transference Not working with the countertransference Not acknowledging the countertransference Therapeutic alliance breaking down Unable to discuss case reflectively in supervision Reinforcing Client’s and own relationship patterns Difficulty ending therapy

Resistance and Countertransference Resistance refers to patients blocking memories from conscious memory. More generally, however, the term is used to describe the direct or indirect opposition of a patient to the therapeutic process. This coin was termed by Freud as well and this comes from people not wanting to feel bad about what is bothering them. This is a classic form of people prolonging having to confront and deal with the pain. An example is an organized person misses her therapy appointments. “COUNTERTRANSFERENCE is not just resistance but it is the ULTIMATE form of resistance” Freud

Using Countertransference Counselors use Countertransference more than transference presently. Countertransference is used as a tool but the therapist must be self-aware of themselves. Presently, most therapists choose to tell their client about their feelings and disclose their thoughts and feelings. This stems from the belief that ignoring the feelings makes countertransference a NEGATIVE thing.

What Can We Do?????? Ask yourself: ~ Am I responding in a way that feels like me? ~Do I associate this client with anyone else? ~What feelings do I have about them? ~Are those feelings only those that I as a professional have towards all my clients or are there differences? ~Why am Feeling this? ~How is it impacting on my work with this client? Use supervision, more, not less: -Reflective and reflexive practice is key -Accept that feelings towards a client is normal, and work with that -Talk about the relationship in the therapy room -Be consistent with boundaries

Summary Defined Countertransference History of Countertransference Transference and Countertransference Examples of Transference and Potential Bads Examples of Countertransference and Potential Bads Resistance and Countertransference Using Countertransference and What We Can Do