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countertransference ({{Top}}contre-[[transfert) Freud coined the term]]{{Bottom}}

'==Sigmund Freud==[[Freud]] coined the term "[[countertransference' ]]" to designate the [[analyst]]'s '"[[countertransference|unconscious feelings']]" towards the [[patient]].

towards the patient. Although [[Freud ]] only used the term very rarely, it becamemuch more widely used in [[psychoanalytic theory]] after his [[death]].

much more widely used in psychoanalytic theory after his death. ==After Freud==In [[particular]],[[analyst]]s soon [[divided]] over the [[role]] allotted to [[countertransference]] in discussions of [[technique]].

analysts soon divided over On the role allotted to one hand, many [[analyst]]s argued that [[countertransference ]] manifestations were the result of incompletely analysed elements in discus-the [[analyst]], and that such manifestations should therefore be reduced to a minimum by a more [[complete]] [[training]] [[analysis]].

sions of technique. On the one other hand, many analysts some [[analyst]]s from the [[Klein]]ian [[school]], beginning with Paula Heimann, argued that counter-the [[analyst]] should be guided in his [[interpretation]]s by his own [[countertransference]] reactions, taking his own [[feelings]] as an indicator of the [[patient]]'s [[state]] of [[mind]].

transference manifestations were Whereas the result of incompletely analysedformer group regarded [[countertransference]] as an obstacle to [[analysis]], the latter group regarded it as a useful tool.

elements in ==Jacques Lacan==In the analyst1950s, and that such manifestations should therefore be[[Lacan]] describes [[countertransference]] as a [[resistance]], an obstacle which hinders the [[progress]] of [[psychoanalytic]] [[treatment]].

reduced to [[Countertransference]] is a minimum by a more complete training analysis[[resistance]] of the [[analyst]]. On the other

handThus [[Lacan]] defines [[countertransference]] as "the sum of the prejudices, some analysts from the Kleinian school[[passion]]s, beginning with Paula Heimannperplexities,and even the insufficient information of the [[analyst]] at a certain [[moment]] of the [[dialectic]]al [[process]]' of the [[treatment]]."<ref>{{Ec}} p. 225</ref>

countertransference reactions, taking his own feelings as an indicator ===Young Homosexual Woman===In 1957 [[Lacan]] presents a similar [[analysis]] of Freud's treatment of theyoung [[homosexual]] woman <ref>{{F}} (1920a [1918]) "[[Works of Sigmund Freud|The Psychogenesis of a Case of Female Homosexuality]]," [[SE]] XVIII, 147.</ref>.

patientHe argues that when [[Freud]] [[interpreted]] the [[woman]]'s state [[dream]] as expressing a [[wish]] to deceive him, he was focusing on the [[imaginary]] [[dimension]] of mind (Heimann, 1950)the [[woman]]'s [[transference]] rather than on the [[symbolic]] dimension.<ref>{{S4}} p. 135</ref>. Whereas the former group regarded

countertransference That is, [[Freud]] interpreted the [[dream]] as an obstacle to analysissomething directed at him personally, rather than as something directed at the latter group regarded it as a[[Other]].

useful tool[[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.

In ==Training==The preceding examples might seem to [[suggest]] that [[Lacan]] aligns himself with those [[analyst]]s who argue that the 1950s, Lacan presents countertransference as a RESISTANCE, an obstacle[[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 hinders the progress of psychoanalytic treatmenthe dismisses as a "stoical [[ideal]]".<ref>{{S8}} p.219</ref>. Like all resistances to

treatmentThe [[training]] [[analysis]] does not put the [[analyst]] beyond [[passion]], countertransference is ultimately a resistance of and to believe that it does would be to believe that all the analyst[[passion]]s stem from the [[unconscious]], an [[idea]] which [[Lacan]] rejects. Thus

Lacan defines countertransference as '==Desire of the Analyst==If anything, the sum of better analysed the [[analyst]] is, the prejudicesmore likely he is to be frankly in [[love]] with, passionsor be quite repulsed by,the [[analysand]].<ref>{{S8}} p. 220</ref>.

perplexitiesIf, and 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 insufficient information [[desire of the analyst at a certain]].<ref>{{S8}} p. 220-1</ref>

moment of the dialectical process==Affect==Hence [[Lacan]] does not entirely reject Paula Heimann' of the treatment (Ec, 225)s [[position]].

Lacan refers to two of Freud'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 case studies to illustrate what he means. In

1951For example, if [[Freud]] had reflected a bit more on his feelings towards the young homosexual [[woman]], he refers might have avoided [[interpreting]] her [[dream]] as a [[message]] addressed directly to the Dora case (Freud, 1905e), and argues that Freud'shim.<ref>{{S4}} p. 108</ref>.

countertransference was rooted <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 belief that heterosexuality is naturaltechnique."<ref>{{S1}} p.32</ref></blockquote>

rather than normativeIf [[countertransference]] is condemned by [[Lacan]], then, and it is because he defines it not in his identification with Herr K[[terms]] of [[affect]]s felt by the [[analyst]], but as the [[analyst]]'s failure to use those [[affect]]s appropriately. Lacan argues

that it was these two factors which caused Freud to handle ==Late Lacan==In the treatment badly1960s [[Lacan]] becomes very critical of the term [[countertransference]].

He argues that it connotes a symmetrical [[relationship]] between the [[analyst]] and provoke the 'negative [[analysand]], whereas the [[transference' which led to Dora breaking off the]] is anything but a symmetrical relationship.

treatment (Lacan, 1951a)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>.

In 1957 Lacan presents <blockquote>"The [[transference]] is a similar analysis phenomenon in which [[subject]] and [[psycho]]-analyst are both included. To [[divide]] it in terms of Freud's treatment [[transference]] and [[counter-transference]] . . . is never more than a way of avoiding the [[essence]] of the youngmatter."<ref>{{S11}} p. 231</ref></blockquote>

imaginary dimension of the woman's transference rather than on the symbolic[[Category:Psychoanalysis]]  dimension (S4, 135). 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 identified with the woman's father (S4, 106-9). Once again,  Freud's countertransference brought the treatment to a premature end, though  this time it was Freud who decided to terminate it.  The preceding examples might seem to suggest that Lacan aligns himself  with those analysts who argue that the training analysis should give the analyst  the capacity to transcend all affective reactions to the patient. However, Lacan absolutely rejects this point of view, which he dismisses 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, an idea which Lacan rejects. 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 (S8, 220). If, then, the analyst does not act on the basis 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).  Hence [[Category:Jacques Lacan does not entirely reject Paula Heimann's position. He accepts  that analysts have feelings towards their patients, and that sometimes 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 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.  (Sl, 32)    If countertransference is condemned by Lacan, then, it is because he defines it  not in terms of affects felt by the analyst, but as the analyst's failure to use  those affects appropriately.  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 relation- ship. 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[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Practice]] transference (S8, 233). 'The transference is a phenomenon in which subject[[Category:Dictionary]][[Category:Language]] and psycho-analyst are both included. To divide it in terms of transference and[[Category:Symbolic]][[Category:Concepts]] counter-transference . . . is never more than a way of avoiding the essence of[[Category:Terms]][[Category:OK]] the matter' (Sll, 231).__NOTOC__