Analytic Attitude and Transference/Counter-transference

Schafer presents insights that reference action language in the clinical situation and provides examples of the analytic attitude. The analytic attitude allows for a space to be created in which something can emerge from the patient or analyst. The analytic attitude allows for analytic interpretation to take place in a non-judgmental, free-floating, non-directive, and non-manipulative way. Unconscious material emerges as the unconscious relationship becomes the object of communication and analysis. Analytic attitude describes technique that allows for the unconscious process to be reached and action language facilitates this process.

Thus the analytic attitude, created by Freud, provides for a psychoanalytic method if investigation. Schafer attempts to define the ideal attitude that can provide empathy, an atmosphere of safety, and allows for insight and change. The use of transference and counter-transference is interpreted. Conflict can be understood as part of the unconscious transference and counter-transference processes. The transference and counter-transference are also a link to the outside world. This paper presents the issues of transference and counter-transference in the clinical setting with an example of a clinical interaction that illustrates the points made. This is followed by conclusions.

Interpretation of transference and counter-transfere

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experience than from theory. Trial and error allows for discovery of meanings of each of these processes as well as their content. The analyst learns from the patient through this experience with conscious and unconscious interactions. While the therapeutic experience must provide a safe place for transference to occur the transference itself may at times provide a traumatic experience which conflicts with this security. Thus transference may have a double nature. In addition there are situations when the therapeutic experience develops into trauma as when the patient sees something wrong in the therapy and it is not dealt with. The analyst must guard against the tendency to view all therapeutic emotional experiences as corrective when in fact the opposite may be true in some instances. When treating a traumatized patient it is important to understand that in time the traumatic experience will be represented in the transference. Unconscious memories and needs will be presented and the past will spill into the present. The analyst must be prepared to deflect or prevent illusion from taking over. Counter-transference must not interfere with this process. Transference is an important part of learning about the past an
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1629
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)