Changes

countertransference ({{Top}}contre-[[transfert) ]]{{Bottom}}

Freud coined the term 'countertransference' to designate the analyst's 'unconscious feelings' towards the patient. Although [[Freud ]] only used the term very rarely, it became much more widely used in [[psychoanalytic theory ]] after his [[death. In particular, analysts soon divided over the role allotted to countertransference in discussions of technique. On the one hand, many analysts argued that counter-transference manifestations were the result of incompletely analysed elements in the analyst, and that such manifestations should therefore be reduced to a minimum by a more complete training analysis. On the other hand, some analysts from the Kleinian school, beginning with Paula Heimann, argued that the analyst should be guided in his interpretations by his own countertransference reactions, taking his own feelings as an indicator of the patient's state of mind (Heimann, 1950). Whereas the former group regarded countertransference as an obstacle to analysis, the latter group regarded it as a useful tool]].

==After Freud==In the 1950s[[particular]], Lacan presents countertransference as a RESISTANCE, an obstacle which hinders [[analyst]]s soon [[divided]] over the progress of psychoanalytic treatment. Like all resistances [[role]] allotted to treatment, countertransference is ultimately a resistance of the analyst. Thus Lacan defines [[countertransference as 'the sum of the prejudices, passions, perplexities, and even the insufficient information of the analyst at a certain moment of the dialectical process' ]] in discussions of the treatment (Ec, 225)[[technique]].

Lacan refers to two of Freud's case studies to illustrate what he means. In 1951, he refers to On the Dora case (Freudone hand, 1905e), and argues many [[analyst]]s argued that Freud's [[countertransference was rooted ]] manifestations were the result of incompletely analysed elements in his belief that heterosexuality is natural rather than normativethe [[analyst]], and in his identification with Herr K. Lacan argues that it was these two factors which caused Freud to handle the treatment badly and provoke the 'negative transference' which led such manifestations should therefore be reduced to Dora breaking off the treatment (Lacan, 1951a)a minimum by a more [[complete]] [[training]] [[analysis]].

In 1957 Lacan presents a similar analysis of Freud'On the other hand, some [[analyst]]s treatment of from the young homosexual woman (Freud[[Klein]]ian [[school]], beginning with Paula Heimann, 1920a). He argues argued that when Freud interpreted the woman'[[analyst]] should be guided in his [[interpretation]]s dream by his own [[countertransference]] reactions, taking his own [[feelings]] as expressing a wish to deceive him, he was focusing on the imaginary dimension an indicator of the woman[[patient]]'s transference rather than on the symbolic dimension (S4, 135). That is, Freud interpreted the dream as something directed at him personally, rather than as something directed at the Other[[state]] of [[mind]].

Lacan argues that Freud did this because he found Whereas the woman attractive and because he identified with the woman's father (S4, 106-9). Once again, Freud's former group regarded [[countertransference brought the treatment ]] as an obstacle to a premature end[[analysis]], though this time it was Freud who decided to terminate the latter group regarded itas a useful tool.

The preceding examples might seem to suggest that ==Jacques Lacan aligns himself with those analysts who argue that ==In the training analysis should give the analyst the capacity to transcend all affective reactions to the patient. However1950s, [[Lacan absolutely rejects this point of view, which he dismisses ]] describes [[countertransference]] as a 'stoical ideal' (S8, 219). The training analysis does not put the analyst beyond passion, and to believe that it does would be to believe that all the passions stem from the unconscious[[resistance]], an idea obstacle which Lacan rejects. If anything, the better analysed the analyst is, hinders the more likely he is to be frankly in love with, or be quite repulsed by, the analysand (S8, 220). If, then, the analyst does not act on the basis [[progress]] of these feelings, it is not because his training analysis has drained away his passions, but because it has given him a desire which is even stronger than those passions, a desire which Lacan calls the DESIRE OF THE ANALYST (S8 220-1)[[psychoanalytic]] [[treatment]].

Hence Lacan does not entirely reject Paula Heimann's position. He accepts that analysts have feelings towards their patients, and that sometimes [[Countertransference]] is a [[resistance]] of the [[analyst can direct the treatment better by reflecting on these feelings. For example, if Freud had reflected a bit more on his feelings towards the young homosexual woman, he might have avoided interpreting her dream as a message addressed directly to him (S4, 108)]].

No one has ever said that Thus [[Lacan]] defines [[countertransference]] as "the analyst should never have feelings towards his patient. But he must know not only not to give into themsum of the prejudices, [[passion]]s, to keep them in their placeperplexities, but also how to make adequate use and even the insufficient information of the [[analyst]] at a certain [[moment]] of the [[dialectic]]al [[process]]' of them in his techniquethe [[treatment]]. (Sl, 32)"<ref>{{Ec}} p. 225</ref>

==Case Studies==[[Lacan]] refers to two of [[Freud]]'s [[case]] studies to illustrate what he means.  ===Young Homosexual Woman===In 1957 [[Lacan]] presents a similar [[analysis]] of Freud's treatment of the young [[homosexual]] woman <ref>{{F}} (1920a [1918]) "[[Works of Sigmund Freud|The Psychogenesis of a Case of Female Homosexuality]]," [[SE]] XVIII, 147.</ref>.  He argues that when [[Freud]] [[interpreted]] the [[woman]]'s [[dream]] as expressing a [[wish]] to deceive him, he was focusing on the [[imaginary]] [[dimension]] of the [[woman]]'s [[transference]] rather than on the [[symbolic]] dimension.<ref>{{S4}} p. 135</ref>.  That is, [[Freud]] interpreted the [[dream]] as something directed at him personally, rather than as something directed at the [[Other]]. [[Lacan]] argues that [[Freud]] did this because he found the [[woman]] attractive and because he [[identification|identified]] with the [[woman]]'s [[father]].<ref>{{S4}} p. 106-9</ref>. Once again, [[Freud]]'s [[countertransference]] brought the [[treatment]] to a premature end, though this time it was [[Freud]] who decided to terminate it. ==Training==The preceding examples might seem to [[suggest]] that [[Lacan]] aligns himself with those [[analyst]]s who argue that the [[training]] [[analysis]] should give the [[analyst]] the capacity to transcend all [[affect|affective reactions]] to the [[patient]].  However, [[Lacan]] absolutely rejects this point of view, which he dismisses as a "stoical [[ideal]]".<ref>{{S8}} p.219</ref>.  The [[training]] [[analysis]] does not put the [[analyst]] beyond [[passion]], and to believe that it does would be to believe that all the [[passion]]s stem from the [[unconscious]], an [[idea]] which [[Lacan]] rejects.  ==Desire of the Analyst==If anything, the better analysed the [[analyst]] is, the more likely he is to be frankly in [[love]] with, or be quite repulsed by, the [[analysand]].<ref>{{S8}} p. 220</ref>.  If, then, the [[analyst]] does not [[act]] on the basis of these [[feeling]]s, it is not because his [[training]] [[analysis]] has drained away his [[passion]]s, but because it has given him a [[desire]] which is even stronger than those [[passion]]s, a [[desire]] which [[Lacan]] calls the [[desire of the analyst]].<ref>{{S8}} p. 220-1</ref> ==Affect==Hence [[Lacan]] does not entirely reject Paula Heimann's [[position]].  He accepts that [[analyst]]s have [[feeling]]s towards their [[patient]]s, and that sometimes the [[analyst]] can direct the [[treatment]] better by reflecting on these [[feeling]]s.  For example, if [[Freud]] had reflected a bit more on his feelings towards the young homosexual [[woman]], he might have avoided [[interpreting]] her [[dream]] as a [[message]] addressed directly to him.<ref>{{S4}} p. 108</ref>. <blockquote>"No one has ever said that the [[analyst]] should never have feelings towards his [[patient]]. But he must [[know]] not only not to give into [[them]], to keep them in their [[place]], but also how to make adequate use of them in his technique."<ref>{{S1}} p.32</ref></blockquote> If [[countertransference ]] is condemned by [[Lacan]], then, it is because he defines it not in [[terms ]] of affects [[affect]]s felt by the [[analyst]], but as the [[analyst]]'s failure to use those affects [[affect]]s appropriately. ==Late Lacan==In the 1960s [[Lacan ]] becomes very critical of the term [[countertransference]]. He argues that it connotes a symmetrical [[relationship ]] between the [[analyst ]] and the [[analysand]], whereas the [[transference ]] is anything but a symmetrical relationship.  When [[speaking ]] of the [[analyst]]'s position it is both misleading and unnecessary to use the term [[countertransference]]; it is sufficient to [[speak ]] of the different ways in which the [[analyst ]] and [[analysand ]] are implicated in the [[transference (]].<ref>{{S8, }} p. 233)</ref>. ' <blockquote>"The [[transference ]] is a phenomenon in which [[subject ]] and [[psycho]]-analyst are both included. To [[divide ]] it in terms of [[transference ]] and [[counter-transference ]] . . . is never more than a way of avoiding the [[essence ]] of the matter' (Sll, ."<ref>{{S11}} p. 231).</ref></blockquote> ==See Also=={{See}}* [[Affect]]* [[Analyst]]||* [[Desire]]* [[Interpretation]]||* [[Training]]* [[Transference]]||* [[Treatment]]* [[Unconscious]]{{Also}} ==References==<div style="font-size:11px" class="references-small"><references/></div> [[Category:Psychoanalysis]][[Category:Jacques Lacan]][[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Practice]][[Category:Dictionary]][[Category:Language]][[Category:Symbolic]][[Category:Concepts]][[Category:Terms]][[Category:OK]]__NOTOC__