Theories of Transference

Theories of transference suggest that during therapy, individuals unconsciously project feelings, attitudes, or patterns from past relationships onto their therapist. This means they might react to the therapist as they did to significant people in their lives, like parents or partners, instead of seeing the therapist as a separate person. This process helps reveal unresolved conflicts and emotional patterns, allowing for understanding and healing. Different psychological theories, like psychoanalysis, emphasize transference as a key to exploring deeper issues and facilitating change by examining these unconscious projections.