Projective identification and working through of the countertransference: a multiphase model.

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 2985179R Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1745-8315 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00207578 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Psychoanal Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2018- : London : Taylor & Francis
Original Publication: London : Institute of Psychoanalysis

Countertransference* ; Models, Psychological* ; Projection* ; Psychoanalytic Theory*; Humans

Referring to Melanie Klein's unpublished views on projective identification, Bion's theory of container/contained and Money-Kyrle's understanding of countertransference as a process of transformation, the author develops a multiphase model of projective identification. He differentiates five subphases of (1) adhesion, (2) penetration, (3) linking of the projection with an internal object of the analyst, (4) transformation and (5) re-projection. In the author's view the differentiation of overlapping subphases may be helpful to better localize problems of working through the countertransference. Some technical implications are illustrated by brief clinical vignettes. To conclude, the paper discusses typical impasses and options for interpretation.
(Copyright © 2014 Institute of Psychoanalysis.)

Keywords: countertransference; projection; projective identification

Date Created: 20140918 Date Completed: 20150522 Latest Revision: 20191210

20240628

10.1111/1745-8315.12218

25229545