Negative transference

Somehow-after taking 2 Lunesta, I became wide awake and can't relax. How in the world do sleeping pills wake me up these days?

Anyway, I know some of us struggle with negative transference, so I thought I'd share this here. It's an extreme case-I don't know anyone here who has posted about this issue to the extent described in this article, but it seems like an honest narrative by a therapist who works in a way to provoke it (as my therapist does) with the view that it is a necessary part of analytic therapy.

Plus he talks about projection, introjection, and enmeshment...my favorite subjects lately that I rarely ever come across.

Enjoy if you are interested-

http://icpla.edu/wp-content/uploads/...6-p711-22p.pdf

Thanks, looks very interesting. I plan to read it as soon as I get the chance. I just had period of three months of very intensive negative transference with my T from Aug till Oct, when I returned from a one year break because I was abroad. I honestly just attacked him every day (verbally) because it seemed to me that he is stupid, he doesn't know anything, he doesn't understand me at all, he has completely forgotten me, why am I even bothering seeing him etc etc. One day during this period when I demanded him to tell me what does he see as his work with me anyway (assuming that he seemed so useless to me) he answered that his only job right now is to survive my attacks, to stay alive and not to reject or abandon me because this is what he thought I was provoking. Anyway, I'm glad this period is over, at least for now

Yes, thank you very much!

Would you like to write some more about what you found interesting about this article, perhaps some of your own struggles?

Very interesting, thanks Skies. Very bold from the therapist's point of view and feelings. Even the imagery the T uses in the descriptions are rather dark and suggestive of inner conflicts and negative feelings.

I would also be interested in hearing about your experience with negative transference if you would like to share.

Wow, sounds intense. I really like whay he said here, he sounds pretty amazing.

I'm not sure if I'll post about my personal experience but will think about it. Not feeling too safe putting myself out there on this forum right now. Thanks

Here is another article, written by a psychoanalyst, about complex negative and positive transference/countertransference experiences during the course long-term therapy with a patient.

http://www.marksehl.com/uploads/1/3/...stalemates.pdf

I can't cut and paste from the PDF but there are several sentences on page 303 starting with "I am suggesting that in cases where there is a defective identity and sense of self-esteem. . ." that I found really interesting.

One thing I find interesting in both of the articles that we linked on this thread is when therapist and client experience similar feelings that may have (at least partially) similar origins, how they trigger each-other and identify with one-another. I very definitely experienced this with my therapists, both negative and positive ones. I liked my last therapist so much in part because he was very open and willing to share his side with me. The first one (who often annoyed the *** out of me) was much more insecure, sometimes condescending, and tried to cover it up, often in messy ways. The latter approach completely killed any desire and willingness on my side to self-identify with that therapist or feel that we had things on common, while the openness and direct, secure and consistent style of my second T encouraged me and created a very positive environment for our interactions even when we shared problematic areas. One limitation of that very positive context though was that both the T and I avoided some things, I think because we generally enjoyed each-other's company a lot and did not want to introduce conflicts or break the atmosphere.

Wow...I'm glad you both survived this intense negative transference - he sounds like a very good t ..

I did experience both negative transference and intense negative countertransference from the t (irl)

Thanks. I relate to the idea of the patient saying (re a parent), i can be sane or i can be loved.

Hi Skies,I found the article a bit triggering. I had the sudden fear that my T might have found it hard to work with my negative transference. Hope you are doing ok.