COUNTERTRANSFERENCE AS INSTRUMENT AND OBSTACLE - A COMPREHENSIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE FRAMEWORK

A comprehensive and descriptive approach to countertransference phenom ena is proposed. Three types of mental activity are distinguished: the objective-rational attitude is an adaptive, relatively nondefensive m ode of observation; the reactive mental stare corresponds to the class ical notion of unconscious countertransference as an obstacle and a de fense; by contrast the reflective attitudes involve preconscious and c onscious psychical activity. Reflective activity involves four phases: (1) during emergence, an inner reaction appears; (2) immersion, throu gh a regressive exploration, leads to introjective identification; (3) integrative elaboration involves a shift in cathexis, more distance, and an organization of the regressed contents, while (4) an interpreta tion is forming in mind. Three case examples from the literature serve to illustrate.