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Emotional objectivity and transference are two concepts that therapists must be aware of when working with clients. Emotional objectivity is the ability to remain unbiased and nonjudgmental when interacting with a client, while transference refers to a phenomenon in which the client attributes feelings they have toward someone else onto the therapist. While both terms may be similar, they refer to distinct experiences that directly affect the therapeutic process between a therapist and their client.

To illustrate this difference, consider a scenario in which a therapist is working with a female client who has experienced physical abuse in her relationships. In this case, emotional objectivity would refer to the therapist’s ability to not let his own judgment influence how he approaches his sessions with her. For example, instead of expressing frustration at her abuser or feeling sympathy for her struggles, he should strive to remain calm and impartial while providing support and advice as needed. This type of attitude will allow him to understand his client from an objective point of view without making any assumptions or drawing conclusions based on his personal values or beliefs.

On the other hand, transference is likely to occur during this therapy session if the client begins projecting feelings she has about people from her past onto the therapist himself (e.g., assuming that he has bad intentions). This phenomenon can disrupt progress made within the session by creating confusion among both parties; if left unchecked it can also lead to potential risks such as boundary violations between patient and clinician (Goldman & Greenberg-Schutts 2020). As such, it is important for therapists to recognize signs of transference so they can intervene appropriately—for example by asking questions about why certain behaviors are being exhibited—in order reduce its negative impact on therapy outcomes (Lambrou et al. 2019).

In conclusion, understanding these two concepts is essential for any mental health professional who wishes to provide effective care for their patients; emotional objectivity enables them maintain an unbiased attitude toward their work while avoiding potential conflicts due transference requires active awareness on behalf of both individuals involved in therapy sessions so its effects can be minimized before more serious consequences arise (Goldman & Greenberg-Schutts 2020).

References

Goldman LJ & Greenberg-Schutts D 2020 ‘Therapist Self Care: Objectivity vs Transference’, Trauma Therapy Today [Online], Available: https://www.traumatherapytodayblog .com/therapist-self-care-objectivi ty-vs.-transference [Accessed 8 February 2021].
Lambrou P et al 2019 ‘Transferential Phenomena in Psychotherapy: An Overview’ Frontiers in Psychology 10(1797), 1–14

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