Bad Transferance: I talked to my T a few months ago about my fear that she was going to abandon me. I knew that it was irrational and couldn't seem to get my mind to stop thinking in this way. I would say that that was bad transferance. My first T made me think of a mother figure. I caught myself wanting to make her proud of me at times. I thought this could be a good transferance because it might encourage me to work on things. But, it unnerved me because it wasn't quite "normal" feeling to me.
I think transferance is rather normal in the T-client relationship. The relationship is so intimate and fulfills psychological needs that we can't fulfill for ourselves that "falling in love" with your T would be a good possiblity. When my teacher discussed this, one of my classmates said that the client would have to be messed up. My teacher pointed out the intimacy of the relationship between a T and client. I felt that he should also point out that
Ts fulfill a psychological need that we can't fulfill for ourselves at this time. I NEED my T's positive thinking to help me combat my negative thinking. The need for someone in that way can be mistaken for love.
Take home message: If you experience an intense case of transferance, it's okey. We're more normal than you think!