Abstract

Transference reactions are caused by unmet emotional needs, neglect, seductions and other abuses that transpired during childhood. In some forms of psychotherapy, a therapist will intentionally create or allow transference to form. When done properly, this helps a therapist to understand and find a connection between the patient’s past and how the patient misreads the present and may react ineffectively. (Conner, 2001).

In this work we are identifying and exploring transference phenomenon in interactive dynamic group therapy. We aim to evaluate the effects of transference on the course of the group, and the resistance of the patients to the awareness of their transferential feelings and relationships.

The sessions that were included in this  work were 7 sessions (between 27/5/2002 and 1/8/2005) from the group of the difficult personality disordered female patients  held biweekly in Minia University Hospital.

Sessions were tape and video recorded, transcribed and qualitatively analyzed.

Analysis of the selected sessions revealed that:

  • In a therapy group, transference is omnipresent and influences the nature of the group discourse.
  • Without an appreciation and awareness of transference and its manifestations, therapists, especially beginners, will not be able to fully understand the process of the group.
  • Unawareness of transference represents the main task of resistance in group.
  • For some patients, confrontation and awareness of their transference is very important for mature change and improvement.
  • Transference developed mainly towards authority figures and it was mainly hostile/negative transference.
  • Transference is not something wrong.
  • Examining transference can produce considerable therapeutic material.
  • The therapist has to encourage exploration of thoughts and feelings about the therapy and the therapist.
  • The therapist has to encourage the patient to discuss how he/she believed the therapist might feel or think about her.
  • Not all relationships within group therapy are transference.
  • Counter transference is an associated phenomenon which needs particular research and study.

 

Citation:

Ahmed, T., Tawfik, A., Elsherbeiny, A. M. and Mahfouz, R. (2008). Transference Phenomena in Group Psychotherapy : An Analytic Study in a Dynamic Interactive Therapy Group. Doctoral dissertation, Neurology and Psychiatry Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Minia University.

For complete thesis:

  • Contact Dr. Talal Ahmed (email: tolaetela@hotmail.com ).
  • Link to Egyptian Universities Library Consortium (here).
  • Visit Minia Faculty of Medicine’s book library.