I am not actually sure what "working through" means exactly... I guess letting the experience unfold, discussing it in a useful way, deriving meaning and potentially fresh perspective from it?

I had some intense transference reactions with both of my therapists, different kinds. I typically told them about these quite soon after realizing what was going on and we talked about it some, a few of these discussions were right on the money but with my first T, he has a tendency to distort my thoughts and feelings and infuse them with his own stuff, and from all I know, he does this with many patients. He apparently "worked through" the things where all that comes from, which might be true in terms of his understanding it, but he acts out often and tries to force patients into the same mold apparently believing that most psychological problems stem from the same, universal, source. I do think that his idea is true for many people and those will find the approach helpful, but not everyone. I did have an intense negative (somewhat maternal, I think) transference reaction to his misunderstanding and misinterpreting me, which I found meaningful, but he did not help me process it, in part because I left driven by the negative experience. But then discussed it with my current T and we continue to do so when there is a context.

With my current T, my transference reactions are more subtle than what would be clearly parental or erotic... there are always strong specific elements and the whole thing is generally very positive. For example, my liking of what I perceive as consistency on his side. I sometimes have fantasies about him being a close friend or a brother. Sometimes erotic thoughts, although I am not sure this is transference per se other than he is just the type of man I usually find attractive. What tends to dominate though is my appreciation of his professionalism. I do not idealize him at all, just tend to focus on the positive qualities. I did mention to him all these reactions and will continue to do so as bringing it up and then discussing is always quite enlightening. But it's not like he provides some brilliant insights I never thought of... I typically come of with the interpretations myself and then we discuss it, that's our way of "working through" I guess.

I definitely recommend bringing up the feelings. Even if they are negative or the T does not really understand them correctly, I think the process of discussing it often generates new forms of self comprehension and perhaps a more realistic perspective. IMO, it's worth the initial discomfort.