Individual Practice SWES Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Transference typically reveals responses based on unconscious desires. In the therapeutic context, transference occurs when clients project feelings, expectations, and attitudes from past relationships onto the therapist. This often reflects unresolved conflicts and emotional experiences rooted in early interactions, especially those with significant figures like parents or caregivers.

While transference may also be influenced by a client's past experiences and their current psychological state, it primarily sheds light on deeper, often unconscious feelings that the client may not be fully aware of. These can manifest as various emotional reactions, showing that the client is re-experiencing their internal world through their relationship with the therapist. By recognizing and exploring these transference reactions, social workers can help clients gain insight into their emotional challenges and the underlying issues impacting their present relationships.

Understanding that transference includes unconscious desires provides a pathway for therapeutic progress, as addressing these feelings can lead to significant healing and development.