Countertransference: The Therapist's Contribution to Treatment

Epstein, Lawrence; Feiner, Arthur H.

doi:10.1080/00107530.1979.10745593

Cited by 64 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Attempts to interpret Jack's need to see me this way seemed only to enrage him further, so my only recourse was to contain his projections and intervene in a non-threatening manner. I did not discourage him from expressing his anger toward me, often asked him questions about his complaints and frustration with me, and did not challenge his perceptions (L. Epstein, 1983). When his criticisms were most intense, I asked him how he wanted me to feel right then or I commended him on educating me as to how he had felt during his father's attacks.…”

Section: Clinical Illustrationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Impediments to Intimacy

Alperin

2006

Clin Soc Work J

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Research results indicate that intimate contact can profoundly affect health and well-being. The capacity for intimacy, however, differs from person to person. Given its origin in the symbiotic phase of development and its being influenced by the separation-individuation process, the capacity for intimacy is subject to disruption by fear of object loss and fear of merger. In this article, I examine these and other fears as impediments to intimacy. Because of the affective engagement between patient and analyst, these impediments can best be studied, understood, and treated within the psychoanalytic relationship. KEY WORDS: intimacy; love; psychoanalysis.Separation and connectedness exist simultaneously and make each other possible. At the same time I was in here and he was over there, we were also at one -M. Almost all clinicians would agree that intimacy is good. Most people desire it, and most consider it basic to well-being. Research results indicate that, compared with people not in intimate relationships, those in such relationships have lower mortality rates, are less likely to develop mental and physical illnesses, experience fewer stress-related symptoms, and have fewer accidents (Prager, 1995).

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Section: Clinical Illustrationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Impediments to Intimacy

Alperin

2006

Clin Soc Work J

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“…Initially Freud saw countertransference mainly as a hindrance though he later considered it useful in psychoanalysis in understanding the patient (Epstein et al, 1979). Typically, countertransference has been described in a one-to-one relationship between the doctor or therapist and the patient, and has been studied from several points of view: the wide variety of reactions experienced by doctors or therapists (Groves, 1978;Bourne and Lewis, 1977); the doctors' or therapists' background (Formento, 1980;Bourne and Lewis, 1977) and the typesof patientswho evoke these negative reactions in therapists or doctors (Book et al, 1978;Main, 1957;Groves, 1978;Chrzanowski, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical teams reflect family dysfunction

Berkowitz

Leff

1984

Journal of Family Therapy

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Therapists frequently have strong negative reactions to their patients. The view is put forward in this paper that such reactions may be harmful to patients if they are not acknowledged. However, when we, as therapists, are able to recognize our own reactions, they could prove to be a valuable source of information about those people we are trying to help. Three cases are described in which clinical teams behaved in negative ways towards families, who, as a result, did not receive the appropriate treatment. These descriptions are an attempt to show how t h e teams' behaviour mimicked that of the family. It is suggested, firstly, that these reactions should be recognized so they cannot hinder treatment and, secondly, that they be used as a source of information about the interaction within the family. This phenomenon of reflecting family dysfunction may, if properly approached, be of potential value to those who work in teams and deal with families.

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“…Langs (1976) reviewed the literature on countertransference in a definitive fashion. The recent overview by Epstein and Feiner (1979) admirably presents key contributions of the broad spectrum of psychoanalytic writers from all schools of thought, among whom are Searles, Grinberg, Spotniu, Wolf, themselves and others. Their own introduction is an excellent survey of the entire history of the development of the concept, especially as to its usefulness in treatment.…”

Section: Countertransference With Borderline Patientsmentioning

confidence: 98%

A Proposed Revision of the Psychoanalytic Concept of Primitive Mental States, Part II

Grotstein

1984

Contemporary Psychoanalysis

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Countertransference: The Therapist's Contribution to Treatment

Cited by 64 publications

References 12 publications

Impediments to Intimacy

Impediments to Intimacy

Clinical teams reflect family dysfunction

A Proposed Revision of the Psychoanalytic Concept of Primitive Mental States, Part II

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