Transference and Modeling

In light of the topic of psychodynamic group therapy, I've been thinking about transference, and how it relates to the skill of modeling. Yalom writes about the inevitability of transference in the group, and how this isn't a bad thing, but something to be therapeutically utilized. In this chapter Yalom goes into detail about the kind of resistances that can develop in the group because of negative transference reactions, and how the therapist can use these opportunities to model a particular behavior in order to influence the client. Mr. Price talked about this as well, and how he uses modeling and transference to help clients repair the schemas (or whatever he called it, lol CBT term) they developed about attachment figures and relationships.


This technique can only work if the therapist can hold it together in the face of hostile clients and not let their own bruised emotions get in the way. These are the situations that scare me a little bit, because I worry that I won't be able to keep calm and rational in the face of hostility from clients. I score pretty highly on neuroticism scales and deal with depression on and off, and am just the kind of person who is easily batted around by negative emotions. Because of this, I have to be aware of my struggles with emotional stability and continue to work on them. Only by dealing with my own problems can I authentically model that behavior to clients.