Relational Responses
Therapists and analysts who follow a relational approach will go beyond the interpretation of countertransference. They are likely to look for issues that affect the therapeutic work. An example of this is seen on page 42 when Mitchell (1999) and Connie discuss Connie’s concern about Mitchell not calling her by her name. When therapists do this they are using a two-person or intersubjective approach.
Although psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and psychoanalytic counseling differ in terms of die length of treatment, whether a couch is used for the patient, and their emphasis on exploring and interpreting unconscious material, they do have much in common. All examine how relationships and/or motivations before the age of 5 affect current functioning in children, adolescents, and adults. In general, their goals are to help patients gain insight into current behaviors and issues and thus enable them to change behaviors, feelings, and cognitions by becoming aware of unconscious material affecting the current functioning. Although projective and objective tests may be used for assessing concerns, most often the analyst's or therapist's theoretical approach to understanding the patient's childhood development provides a way of assessing analytic material. Much of this material may come from free association toward daily events, feelings, dreams, or other events in the patient's life. As the relationship develops, the analyst or therapist observes a transference— the relationship of the patient to the therapist that reflects prior parental relationships—and the countertransference—the therapist's reactions to the patient. Observations about the patient-therapist relationship as well as material coming from dreams and other material are interpreted or discussed with the patient in ways that will bring about insight into the patient's problems.