Attachment Mismatches and Alliance: Through the Pitfalls of Mentalizing Countertransference

• Published in: Psychoanalytic psychology 2022-07, Vol.39 (3), p.276-279
• Main Authors: Barreto, João F., Matos, Paula Mena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attachment Behavior; Clients; Countertransference; Dyads; Human; Mentalization; Psychotherapy; Therapeutic Alliance
• ISSN: 0736-9735; 1939-1331
• DOI: 10.1037/pap0000410

Individual and combined attachment dimensions within the dyad may affect therapists' experiences in ways that hinder mentalizing and threaten the alliance. Previous research on a particular therapists' mentalizing ability named the elaboration of countertransference experience (ECE) suggests that attachment may affect therapists' mental processes, which in turn are involved in alliance variations between dyads and over time. In this study, these findings are extended by examining therapist, client, and combined attachment dimensions as moderators of the association between ECE and working alliance. Forty-four assessments from the first 10 psychotherapy sessions of 12 independent dyads were examined. The ECE dimension of reflection/conjecture was positively associated with the alliance bond and total score in therapeutic dyads that differed more in attachment. Possible in-session dynamics at stake are discussed. 在二人组合内的个体的和组合的依恋维度可能会影响治疗师的体验,从而阻碍心理化并威胁联盟。以前对特定治疗师的心理化能力的研究,被称为反移情体验的详述(ECE)的,表明了依恋会影响治疗师的心理过程,而这种心理过程反过来参与了联盟在二人组合的变化以及随时间的变化。在此项研究中,通过考查作为ECE与工作联盟之间关联的调节者的治疗师、来访者和组合的依恋维度,这些研究得到了扩展。本研究考查了来自12个独立的二人组合的最初10次心理治疗对话的44个评估。投射/推测的ECE维度与治疗二人组的联盟联结和总分呈正相关,其在依恋方面差异更大。可能涉及的会谈中动力也得到了讨论。