Quote:
Originally Posted by BudFox
I find the whole notion of inducing and then "managing" transference to be quite bizarre. Plus what specifically is the methodology, what are the risks, what sort of hang-ups or wounds does the T have that might intrude, and how do you know what sort of outcomes a given therapist has had with this? Is it enough for the therapist just to say "yea I do transference" and then embark on a months- or years-long relationship where the client could wind up in any number of dangerous or painful scenarios? I've tried to ask some therapists about attachment in therapy, and mostly they talked in metaphors or vague language.  |
I agree with you here. Transference is such a vague concept for most people, not because they don't understand the definition, but because it's such a subjective experience. If a T hasn't been through it themselves, then they aren't going to understand what a client who is going through. Most T training programs in Boston don't require students to attend therapy as part of their training. I know some programs in California do, so it seems to depend on where you live. Many psych student have attended therapy, simply because the field attracts people who've had personal experience, but its not required. To me, that means that most Ts, whether masters level or Phd, don't know what they're getting into when they claim to work with transference. I think its evident given that a lot of the suffering I see in these forums is brought on by how their T handled their transference.