Posted by Veracity on April 5, 2006, at 17:12:01
In reply to Re: Against Transference » pseudoname, posted by fairywings on April 5, 2006, at 16:51:30
I think transference is a very real part of therapy, but the presence of transference doesn't rule out the presence of real feelings.
I think that love/affection for one's therapist is very real and should not be dismissed. We SHOULD care deeply about people who treat us well, have our best interests in mind, and who help us become happier in our lives. I think this is a very real and healthy kind of love. I do NOT think, however, that being IN love with one's therapist is as real or meaningful. We cannot ever really know our therapists beyond limited general information so if we fall IN love with them, it seems like we're just falling in love with some IDEA of them we have in our heads. And that's not real to me, that's transference.
Trouble is, I'm sure it seems just a real to the person feeling that way as real love does - so just calling it transference without honoring the impact of those feelings would probably feel really, really crummy.
poster:Veracity
thread:628935
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060325/msgs/629357.html