Object relations theory focuses on how early life relationships shape one's perceptions and inner representations of self and others. These internalized relationships, or "objects," are stored unconsciously and influence transference in current relationships, including in counseling. Countertransference also occurs as counselors draw on their own unconscious internalized relationships. Being aware of transference and countertransference is important for counselors so it does not interfere with the client's process, and can provide insight into clients' current and past relationships. Examples can be seen in biblical stories like King Saul, Jonah, and Judas Iscariot.

1. RELATIONS IN COUNSELLING
OUTLINE
– Object Relations Theory
Explained
(in under 5 mins)
– ‘Inner’ Representations
(objects)
– Transference explained
– Counte-rtransference
explained
– EXAMPLES

2. ORT in under 5 mins
• Object relations theory – a divergence from
Freudian psychotherapeutic understandings
• primary focus -- relationships of early life that leave
lasting impressions; similar to a residue or remnant
within the psyche

3. ORT in under 5 mins
• These residues of past relationships (inner object
relations) serve to shape perceptions of both
individuals and relationships.

4. ORT in under 5 mins
Fairbairnian quote of Ego structure: “The structure is
seen as one consisting of a system of conscience and
unconscious object relationships that crystallise out of
the infants experience of real relationships.
“Ego structure is the trace of a relationship.”

5. INTERNALIZING
Article by Scharff and Scharff (1992, p.100)
“…relationships become central to psychological life,
and anxiety is thought to play a significant role in
relationships by warning of impending (threatened)
loss of the self in relation to the object. Avoiding
damage to the Self and protection from narcissistic
injury of the Ego drives a complex personality
structural organizational process…”

6. INTERNALIZING and INNER RELATIONSHIPS
Scharff and Scharff (1992, p.101)
“The conscious parts remain in an open system, flexible
and changeable, and able to interact freely with others.
The unconscious parts are split off into a closed system,
rigid and unchanging under the force of repression, and
not available for interaction with others or for learning
and change at the conscious level.”

7. INTERNALIZING and INNER RELATIONSHIPS
Scharff and Scharff (1992, p.101)
“Conscious and unconscious parts are in constant
dynamic interaction with each other internally.
Needs, frustrations, longings, love, and hate are reexperienced inside the self. These… relationships that
were internalised continue to interact dynamically within
the overall personality. These inner relationships are
being actively repressed and are equally actively seeking
to return to consciousness.”

8. Relational Psychodynamics
– Two Triangle Theory by David Malan (1984) (cited by Holmes,
1994, 11)
Somewhat apparent
(conscious realm)
Below the water line of
‘awareness’ (unconscious?)

9. TRANSFERENCE
Transference (as defined by Jackson, 2009):
“Certain unconsciously redirected feelings, fears, or emotions
from a client towards the counsellor that actually stems from
past feelings and interactions with others and is transferred into
the current counselling relationship.”
“Fairbairn said that the most important factor in analytic
treatment is the relationship; because without that, nothing
else matters – but he did not imply that the thing to do was to
focus exclusively on it… I have likened the focus on transference
to the use of Global Positioning Systems. While the machinery
of the GPS is wonderful and certainly fascinating, focussing on
the GPS over an entire journey would avoid the prime purpose
of the trip.” (Hopper, 2001. p. 29)

10. COUNTER-TRANSFERENCE
Counter-Transference (Hahn, 2000):
• “Contemporary views define counter-transference as ‘a joint
creation, in which both the counsellor's past conflicts and
the client's projected aspects create specific patterns of
interaction within the therapeutic process’ (Gabbard, 1993,
p. 13).”
• “It is critical that the counsellor be aware of their own
countertransference propensity, so that it does not interfere
with the clients' ability to take ownership of the counselling
outcome.”
• “When counselling certain clients, it is important to be aware
of some of the dangers inherent in transference
/countertransference…” Some examples?

11. EXAMPLES?
BIBLICAL examples:
• King Saul
• Jonah
• Judas Escariot
• God in Christ

12. Examples from the Bible
King Saul and the javelin incident (1 Sam 15)
King David and Nathan
2 Samuel 12:5
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As
surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this must die! 6 He must pay
for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no
pity.”
Jonah and the pomegranate plant
Jonah 4:9
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the
plant?”
The two on the road to Emmaus
Luke 24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning
within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the
Scriptures to us?”
Judas Iscariot

13. FINAL COMMENTS…
• Transference & C-transference are naturally
occurring phenomena
• Being aware of both (but especially our Ctransferences) is important
• Each can tell us something about our/other
relationships with our client (in present & past)
• Too much importance cannot be placed T/C-t;
rather more should rest on the therapeutic alliance

14. REFERENCES
1.
Hahn, W.K. (2000). Shame: C-transference identification in individual
psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 37(1): 10-21.
2.
Hopper, E. (2001). Lectures on the Concepts of Transference and
Countertransference. Lectures Series, Tavistock Centre for Couples
Relationships, Central London, p. 26.
3.
Wiener, J. (2009). The Therapeutic Relationship: Transference,
Countertransference, and the Making of Meaning. College Station,
Texas: Texas A&M Univ. Press, 150p.
4.
Jackson, K.C. (2009). Counselling Transference / Counter-transference
Issues. Retrieved from:
http://www.contactpoint.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=369&catid=59&Itemid=37