Transferance and Counter-Transferance

Transference and counter transference is one of most important aspects of treatment between patient and practitioner. In a clinical setting we do not always have the opportunity to have consecutive treatments with the same patient and as a result may not be able to acknowledge or notice these occurrences. It is not often that I have the opportunity to see a patient on a regular basis or even twice for that matter. As a result, it is not possible for me to notice or recognize any transference that the patient my have towards me. At times however, I clearly know the impose counter-transference & boundaries issues which patient and I experience.

When my patients are of similar race or age range, I feel a stronger tide towards them. I feel they could relate to me and me to them during treatments. One case was an older Spanish patient which we had. I had strong counter transference toward this patient. He was older Spanish man, with a baldhead, and limping from a post-stroke. He was very energetic and had very high spirit. His personality and certain things he would say reminded me off my grandfather. After leaving the treatment room and coming back to give him a treatment he would be singing, which I though, “that’s is so typical of my grandfather, always happy.” I thought this man was adorable, having gone through so much and yet full of life. I felt very comfortable with him. I definitely felt I had some type of connection with him, I felt more sympathy towards him than other patients. Although, I felt this way towards this patient I did not express or demonstrate it. I kept myself focused and acted in a professional manner.

At the same time of this occurrence there were other things that went on pertaining to transference and counter transference. The Intern and I definitely had some type of strong transference and counter transference going on. There was a clash of personalities between the intern and me. We totally did not get along. I felt uneasy and that she did not want me there in the room with her. Why? I thought that maybe she felt challenged. I don’t know, but I felt I asked the patient questions that she forgot to ask. I also gave her my opinion about treatment principle, which I do not think she appreciated. With my previous interns, I was very much part of the intake and treatment process. The interns and I would ask questions. If one forgot, the other would ask the rest of the questions. By working together we would acquire a full cover intake. I was trained by my previous interns to being an active part of the process, and expected that this past internship was going to be the same but it was not. This particular intern was very arrogant, thought she was always right, and looked down upon me. She made her feelings clear to me and I really hated working with her. I noticed she really hated whenever I gave her any suggestions about treatments principle, even when the supervisor would say the same thing she totally would ignore it. The reason she felt this way, I think, was because she was an intern and I am an assistant. There was definitely a superiority complex/power struggle thing going on here. Maybe she felt humiliated by me noticing thing she did not. I certainly did not mean to humiliate her. I think she should understand, me being an assistant, that I am there to help her. It was not uncommon for her to forget things that I might catch on and let her know. That is what I am supposed to be there for isn’t it? In addition to observing, aren’t I supposed to assist? I am not saying that I was more knowledgeable than my intern but I was able to catch some mistakes of hers because I of my position as an intern. I’m sort of an outsider looking in on an interviewer and interviewee. I am able to focus on what both are saying instead just listening to the patient. Because of my suggestions to the intern, I definitely felt resentment from her towards me. It was definitely not a friendly