NCJ Number
66807
Date Published
Unknown
Length
14 pages
Annotation
INTENDED FOR EDUCATORS, TRAINERS, AND DRUG ABUSE COUNSELORS, THIS TRAINING BOOKLET DEFINES AND DESCRIBES THE PHENOMENON OF TRANSFERENCE AND SUGGESTS EFFECTIVE WAYS TO USE IT IN TREATMENT.
Abstract
TRANSFERENCE IS DEFINED AS RECEIVING, JUDGING, OR RELATING TO THE PRESENT MOMENT ON THE BASIS OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST AND, AS A RESULT, CREATING A DISTORTED VIEW OF THE WAY THINGS ARE. TO SOME EXTENT, ALL RELATIONSHIPS ARE TRANSFERENTIAL BUT THE DEGREE DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL. TRANSFERENCE IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE FIELD OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION BECAUSE THE CLIENTS OFTEN RESIST GROWING UP AND ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LIVES. FURTHERMORE, TRANSFERENCE CAN ACT AS AN EGO DEFENSE THAT PREVENTS THE PERSON FROM GROWING AND CHANGING. IT CAN ALSO INHIBIT GROWTH IN THE COUNSELOR-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP AND IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT PROGRAM. COUNSELORS SHOULD LOOK FOR SIGNS OF TRANSFERENCE IN BOTH THEIR POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE FEELINGS BECAUSE SUCH FEELINGS MAY PREVENT THEM FROM JUDGING AND TREATING CLIENTS OBJECTIVELY. COUNSELORS SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE OF SEDUCTIVE OR MANIPULATIVE TECHNIQUES USED BY THEIR CLIENTS WHO ATTEMPT TO MAKE THEM MOTHER OR FATHER. IF MOTIVATIONAL TECHNIQUES HAVE THEIR ROOTS IN TRANSFERENCE, THEY SHOULD BE USED THOUGHTFULLY AND ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. PROGRAMS SHOULD NOT PRETEND TO MEET ALL THE CLIENT'S NEEDS, SHOULD EMPHASIZE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND SHOULD REINFORCE THE CONCEPT THROUGH TREATMENT. PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING A PROGRAM CAN OFFER TO A CLIENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE REALITY, TO ACCEPT IT, AND TO LIVE WITH IT AND IN IT. (AOP)