ABSTRACT
Transference and Countertransference are two profound psychological manifestations. Transference exists in both the consultation room and in the real world of interpersonal relationships. Whereas countertransference only exists in the consultation room and is related to the therapist’s relationship to the client. Transference is the symbolic representation that both the therapist and group members have become surrogates of the people that were previously in the client’s history. It is through the transference that many of the client’s conflicts can be work through. Countertransference, on the other hand, is indicative of the therapist’s unresolved issues that are being elicited by the client. At one time this was considered a negative response on the part of the therapist. This belief has softened to include the emotional reactions of the therapist toward the client and in fact can be, for the therapist, a greater understanding how the client affects others in the client’s interpersonal world.
