Addressing Transference Psychology: Tips For Therapists

The relationship between a therapist and a client is often unique. A therapist often plays the role of a neutral third party, and therapy sessions can be a safe space to explore the client’s relationships, memories, and emotions. However, when a client starts experiencing strong emotions about their therapist, this dynamic may shift and make therapy more challenging. This occurrence is known as transference. Understanding and responding to transference can be a way for therapists to improve the therapeutic relationship or decide whether it might be best for the client to visit with another provider. 

What is transference psychology? 

The concept of transference originated with Sigmund Freud, a psychoanalyst from the 1800s. Freud believed that subconscious feelings and childhood experiences played a key role in shaping people’s personalities and behavior patterns. 

Types of transference

Transference can often occur in therapeutic settings and take many forms. Understanding how transference occurs may help therapists gain more insight into how their clients think and behave. Learning about transference can also be helpful for people in therapy who want to understand their own behaviors and emotional responses. Below are the most common forms of this psychological response.  

Positive transference

Positive transference happens when a client projects positive feelings onto their therapist. These feelings may include how they once felt about a hero or authority figure, such as admiration or respect. 

Negative transference

Negative transference, the opposite of positive transference, happens when a client projects negative feelings onto a therapist. These feelings often originate from negative childhood experiences with authority figures. They might include distrust, resentment, or anger. 

Erotic transference

Erotic transference is sometimes also called “sexualized transference” or “eroticized transference.” This form happens when a patient develops a sexual or romantic attraction to their therapist. These attachments often form due to dynamics in past relationships, such as a sense of being overlooked, ignored, or sexualized. 

Parental transference

Maternal transference and paternal transference may happen when a client projects their subconscious feelings about a parent onto their therapist. This type of transference can reflect childhood relationship dynamics. For example, clients might be defiant toward their therapist, work hard to seek their approval, or view them as parental figures. 

Sibling transference

A client might also project their feelings about their siblings onto their therapist. For example, if a patient’s older brother always picked on them when they were kids, they might be more likely to get defensive if they believe their therapist is acting the same way. 

Non-familial transference

Sometimes, a client might not project feelings about a past relationship onto a therapist. Instead, they might view their therapist as an idealized version of themselves, the same way one might view a celebrity or superhero. This form is known as non-familial transference.  

Countertransference

While transference describes a client projecting feelings onto their therapist, countertransference describes a therapist projecting feelings onto their client. Countertransference can also create problems in the relationship when it prevents a therapist from effectively helping someone. For example, if a therapist transfers resentment from a past relationship onto their client, they might make judgmental comments that could damage their client’s mental health. 

Addressing transference: Tips for therapists

Transference and countertransference can both have adverse effects on the therapeutic process. For this reason, therapists can take steps to manage them appropriately. The following tips may help therapists prevent and respond to transference:

• Be on the lookout for signs of transference: Learn to observe your clients for strong emotions they may unintentionally direct toward you. Catching these signs early may help you keep the dynamic from becoming unhealthy. 
• Set and maintain clear boundaries: Maintaining a professional relationship can ensure the client understands you won’t emotionally react to their transference behaviors. Make it clear what is and is not appropriate and reinforce those boundaries if your client tests them.
• Reflect on where the emotions may be coming from: You might try gently pointing out what you’ve noticed and suggesting it as a topic to explore further. Being aware that transference is happening may help your client examine their behaviors and thoughts. 
• Explore your client’s past: Transference is often the result of unresolved events or emotions from past relationships. Learning about your client’s background may give you insight into where the behavior is coming from. 
• Be aware of countertransference: Reflect on any significant past relationships that might cause you to transfer emotions onto your client. Be mindful of your feelings and responses, and don't let them cloud the relationship. 
• Take care of yourself: Encountering transference in therapy can be uncomfortable. For this reason, you may cope by tending to your own needs. Consider starting a self-care routine and allow yourself time to recharge between sessions to maintain your mental health. 

Transference can be tricky to navigate as a therapist. Clients might project a wide range of emotions onto you, which can be distressing. In some cases, it may be difficult to understand how to respond or enforce proper boundaries. Navigating these situations alone may lead to burnout and high stress levels. 

Support options 

Working with a therapist can be a valuable strategy for managing transference-related stress and taking care of your mental health. However, finding time for therapy may be difficult for therapists. In these cases, online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp may be more accessible. 

Online therapy platforms often offer the option to receive therapy from the comfort of home via voice, video, or in-app messaging. This feature may provide more flexibility. In addition, the platforms may offer tools like support groups, worksheets, and goal tracking, which can help therapists organize their own support needs.

Online therapy has been found to be an effective option for preventing burnout, which can be brought on by the stress of managing transference as a therapist. In a 2022 study, web-based psychotherapy was given to a group of professionals found to be at risk of burnout. Those who received online therapy showed significantly lower symptoms of burnout compared to the control group.