Transference And Projection: Mirrors to the Self

by Jan Grant

This book describes, defines and demonstrates the clinical applications of transference and projection and how they are used by psychotherapists as 'mirrors to the self' - as reflections of a client's internal structure and core ways of relating to other people. There is an emphasis on understanding transference as a normal organizing process that helps individuals make sense of interpersonal experiences. There is also a focus on how to respond effectively to transference and projection in the day-to-day practice of counselling and psychotherapy. Comprehensive coverage of the ways in which the major schools of psychotherapy understand and utilize such phenomena is also provided. Theoretical principles are illustrated by lively clinical anecdotes from the authors' own psychotherapy practices.

Transference and Projection is aimed at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of psychotherapy, counselling, counselling psychology and clinical psychology. It will also be of interest to therapy students in professional training courses and experienced clinicians who want to know more about this aspect of psychotherapy.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Priscilla Short · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I thought was good as I was reading it and I did plough on to the end, but having now finished it i'm not sure I feel the same way. I've given it 4 stars, but really I think is probably just over a 3, but I wouldn't want to put people off reading it by rating it lower. Its strength is that I do now understand the issues of transference and projection more than i did before. But its weakness is that I don't feel that my understanding has developed sufficiently to warrant the amount of time that it took me to read the book. I've highlighted quite a lot and I"m sure it will be a useful book to refer back to in an academic context, but it didn't bring the subject matter alive for me sufficiently that I have an abiding understanding. However for anyone wanting to know more about this subject it is probably a good book start point but you will need to read a lot more to really feel you've grasped these big concepts.