ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the transference manifestations in general practice. A generalized transference is highlighted whereby a patient may experience and relate to various members of the staff team in a similar way, e.g. doctor/nurse/psychotherapist equals mother. The chapter suggests that the level of the patient’s splitting often disguises other aspects of the transference. The advantage of the generalized transference is that the therapist may be able to see quite graphically how the patient employs his or her transference in relation to different practice members. The development of the patient’s transference when working in a psychiatric or general practice setting is usually not so clear-cut. In these settings it is often useful to think of the transference in more diffuse ways. Often there are a number of professionals involved in treatment of each patient. In general practice patients may see the doctor for one aspect of their problem, the practice nurse for something else and practice counsellor or therapist.
