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Old Sep 10, 2014, 08:29 PM
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grimtopaz grimtopaz is offline
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Member Since: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 212
In my experience, CBT therapists deal (to some extent) with "transference" and conceptualize it in a very different matter. CBTers tend to think of transference as more based on "real" present time reactions to another person, as well as patterns developed to cope with negative "core beliefs" (discussed below). That is, transference has nothing to do with projection/unmet wishes/etc.

CBTers acknowledge that you tend to like some people and you tend to dislike others, this manifests itself in the therapeutic relationship - that is, like in "real life", some people click and others don't...it's not necessarily "transference" or "resistance".

Erotic transference is simply viewed as a reasonable reaction to having someone who is so attentive, kind, emphatic, etc. That is, it is a reasonable, real reaction given the therapeutic situation. Most CBTers would handle "erotic transference" by 1) praising you for bringing up something so deeply personal that makes you vulnerable, 2) saying they are flattered (or something like that), 3) they will tell you they accept and normalize your feelings and state how it is common given the setup of the therapeutic relationship. And probably nothing else unless it begins to interfere with the work.

CBTers who do "deeper work" - that is, work with the cognitive restructuring of "schemas" (or core beliefs, e.g. "I am unlovable" and "I am a failure") are interested in schema-based interpersonal patterns that manifest themselves in the room. If they know what they are doing, they will identify this and point it out. However, even though the relationship is considered critical, there are no "interpretations" of transference or what is going on.

Also, in terms of transference the philosophy is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". That is, as long as it's not interfering with treatment or serves no purpose, it will not be brought up and certainly not analyzed.
Thanks for this!
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