Freud used the term ‘transference’ to describe how an individual unconsciously assigns to another person feelings and attitudes connected with a significant figure from their childhood. In the counselling relationship transference is seen as an important part of therapy.
For example, a client who had a very autocratic mother or father during childhood may have unresolved feelings of fear, anger and a lack of nurturing. This may cause the client to behave, albeit unconsciously, in a certain way with all male/female authority figures. The client may ‘transfer’ related feelings and behaviours (such as being defensive, angry and seeking approval) to the counsellor.
The counsellor can then encourage the client to explore how these feelings from the past are impacting on their present life. The original feelings can be re-experienced and then played out in a way the client hoped they would have been, as opposed to the way they were played out originally.
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