Counter Transference Theory

Introduction

According to Walsh(2014)social care practitioners invest a great deal of themselves within the work they carry out. The use of self is intended to develop understanding of others and that being self-aware leads to effective use of self and in turn good social care practice .In social care we often use different concepts and theories as tools to help explain human behavior. Social care practitioners can gain useful insights from considering many psychoanalytical theories as they enable us to explore many unconscious internal mechanisms( Walsh 2014).

Transference A Freudian concept that has been proven to be useful and beneficial in exploring a client’s behavior and unexplored feelings is that of defense mechanisms (Maltby, Day ,and Macaskill 2010).Defense mechanisms are meant to protect an individual from unpleasant thoughts and emotions .According to the Freudian theory a defense mechanism is a tactic developed by the ego to protect against anxiety. Defence mechanisms are thought to safeguard the mind against feelings and thoughts that are too difficult for the conscious mind to cope with. (Maltby, Day ,and Macaskill 2010).

Being aware of counter-transference within social care means you can differentiate between what you need to deal with in your own personal life versus what is coming up in the interaction between the practitioner and the client (Hepworth, Rooney et al 2009). While transference of the client’s conflicts and issues onto the practitioner is considered a healthy and normal part of a professional relationship, the practitioners role is to remain neutral(Hepworth, Rooney et al

It can be noted that our adulthood can often be described as an extension of our childhood hence what we experience as infants and children can shape how we react , process and solve situations in the future (Engler 2008). Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development is highly important for social care practitioners as this knowledge will enable us to gain an insight into what makes our client’s tick while also allowing us to understand , at a deeper level , what internal issues and conflicts may be happening under the surface(Greene 2011)