Title

The Impact Of The Sibling In Clinical Practice: Transference And Countertransference Dynamics

Keywords

Countertransference; Psychotherapy/therapy; Relational therapy; Sibling; Transference

Abstract

For many years, the impact of sibling relationships on psychological development has been neglected in the literature, overshadowed by the role of the parent-child relationship. As a result, attention to sibling dynamics and sibling transference as valuable information for case formulation and treatment interventions has not been used to its maximum potential. The authors demonstrate how deliberate consideration of sibling dynamics as well as the transferences and countertransferences associated with those dynamics can facilitate treatment. Several important sibling dynamics are discussed, including siblings' influences on identity development; sibling rivalry, jealousy, envy, guilt, and resentment; and sibling attachment. The impact of sibling dynamics on adult love relationships is discussed, as are potential effects of sibling abuse and sibling bereavement. Examples of how these dynamics can manifest themselves in transference and countertransference reactions and suggestions for working with those dynamics are illustrated with clinical examples. Copyright 2005 by the Educational Publishing Foundation.

Publication Date

9-1-2005

Publication Title

Psychotherapy

Volume

42

Issue

3

Number of Pages

267-278

Document Type

Review

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.42.3.267

Socpus ID

27644474305 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/27644474305

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