Counter-Transference in Therapy

Inpsychoanalytic theory, counter-transference occurs when thetherapistbegins to project his own unresolved conflicts onto the client.Freud, in 1910, was the first to discuss this topic.

Transference客户对治疗师的冲突是心理动力治疗的正常部分。然而，它是治疗师的工作，以认识到反转，并做必要的是保持中立。

Although many now believe it to be inevitable, counter-transference can be damaging if not appropriately managed. With proper monitoring, however, some sources show that counter-transference can play a productive role in the therapeutic relationship.

反转有四种表现：

1. 主观：治疗师自己未解决的问题是原因（如果没有检测到有害）
2. Objective: the therapist's reaction to his client'smaladaptive behaviors原因是（可以使治疗过程有益）
3. Positive: the therapist is over-supportive, trying too hard to befriend his client, disclosing too much (can damage the therapeutic relationship)
4. 否定：治疗师以消极的方式对抗不舒服的感受，包括过于批评，惩罚或拒绝客户

Counter-transference is especially common in novice therapists, so supervisors pay close attention and help them become more self-aware. The mental health community supports seasoned clinicians by urging them to seek peer review and supervisory guidance as needed. Rather than eliminating counter-transference altogether, the goal is to use those feelings productively.

What Qualifies as Counter-Transference?

Counter-transference is the therapist's inappropriate reaction to his client. The therapist is reacting to an unconscious neurotic conflict within himself that the client has unearthed.

治疗师如何知道他正在经历反转转移？你怎么知道你的治疗师是否正在展示反转转移的迹象？

The first sign is an inappropriate emotional response to the client. More specifically, when the client is an adult, common counter-transference reactions a therapist, or client, should look out for include:

• 对客户或对客户的过度积极情绪不合理的不合理
• Becoming overemotional and preoccupied with the client's case between sessions
• Dreading the therapy session or feeling uncomfortable during the session

如果你r child is in therapy, you can also look out for other clues if you suspect trouble in the therapeutic relationship. When the client is a child, warning signs of counter-transference for the therapist include:

• 从他的情况中拯救孩子的幻想
• Ignoring the child's deviant behavior
• Encouraging the child to act out

When It Can Be a Good in Therapy

Although it's important for your therapist to guard against feelings of counter-transference toward you, it can also produce good results. In a systematic review of 25 counter-transference studies, researchers found an association with positive counter-transference, such as feeling close to the client, and positive outcomes, including improvement of symptoms and a good therapeutic relationship.

A Word From Verywell

To drive your understanding home on counter-transference, here is an example.

Mike became concerned when he developed protective feelings for a female client. In discussions with a colleague, he realized that the client reminded him of his sister, leading to counter-transference of those feelings.