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Old Aug 27, 2007, 02:09 AM
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You might find that as you feel less anxious you will experience less in the way of transference feelings.

There are a lot of different definitions of transference on the market. The definition I like is something along the lines of transfering feelings and expectations etc that were present in past relationships into present relationships. While this happens with therapists it also happens with our other current relationships (our lovers and friends etc). I like that definition because it characterises the therapy relationship as an intense version of other relationships in our life. Rather than being something so radically different from all our other relationships.

I think that as such (if you buy into that definition / characterisation) then transference is always going to be a matter of degree and it always will be present to some degree in all of our relationships. As such it might get better over time (as you get to see your therapist more as a distinct individual rather than being 'just like' past figures) and it might also get better over time as you start to see (and work through) some of the transference patterns that you have (e.g., the desire for a secure father-figure). But... matter of degree, yeah.