Psychology Concepts for massage therapists

Psychology Concepts

Transference is the process in which clients respond to us (project) with feelings and attitudes that they had toward significant people in their lives such a parents and siblings. It happens in all relationships, not just with clients. You can tell when someone is transferring (or projecting) when the response to something seems over-reactive. You can tell when you are in transference when you get a severe "gut" reaction to something and it usually displays itself in anger or pain. Learning to recognize transference in yourself and in others is essential for building a successful practice. Creating and maintaining strong boundaries is essential in working with clients who are in transference with you.

Counter-transference occurs when we react to clients from our feelings and attitudes that come from our past relationships with parents and family. It often comes in the form of feeling a need to "fix" clients and constantly give them advice. It can be seen when we feel we are called to "help others" rather than be of service to others. Rescuing clients and participating on the Drama Triangle in relationships is counter-transference. When we work with clients to get our own needs met it sets up an agenda for healing and takes away from the clients' experience. The client is paying you to be there for them, not to have you project all of your unmet needs onto them. It happens often in the healing professions, as we are often drawn to the very thing we need most to heal ourselves. Building a practice with clear boundaries is they way to work with transference and counter-transference issues and build a safe container for healing.

Projection - the act of transferring feelings from the past into the present moment. It is an unconscious act that most everyone does. Becoming aware of our projections is important in any and all relationships.

Feelings -Needs at the heart of feelings.

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