Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Relationships Between Categories: The Context of the Symptom in Practice

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current paper introduces a clinical method for experience-near interpretation of transference patterns taking place in the symptom context. This research is a qualitative metasynthetic study. The method of Luborsky’s Core Conflictual Relationship Themes was conducted here on 33 transference case studies published in peer-reviewed journals and sourced from an appropriate database. Case components were categorized and relationships between them were analyzed using the method of Relationship Between Categories. We found that transferential components observed in the context of the symptom were a powerful source of distress. These components were found to be interlinked in patterns of two, three or four core categories. Based on these findings we suggest a therapeutic method that enhances self-understanding and maps out milestones for change. The suggested method is sensitive to a set of the patients’ covert associations, which thus becomes a key to undermining the unconscious balance between healthy and pathologic urges.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bernstein, J., Zimmerman, M., & Auchincloss, E. L. (2015). Transference-focused psychotherapy training during residency: An aide to learning psychodynamic psychotherapy. Psychodynamic Psychiatry,43, 201–221.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buirski, P., & Monroe, M. (2004). Intersubjective observations on transference love. Psychoanalytic Psychology,17, 78–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casement, P. (1985). On learning from the patient. London: Tavistock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1968). Weighted kappa: Nominal scale agreement provision for scaled disagreement or partial credit. Psychological Bulletin,70(4), 213–220.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crits-Christoph, P., & Luborsky, L. (1998). Change in CCRT pervasiveness during psychotherapy. Understanding transference: The Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crits-Christoph, P., Luborsky, L., Dahl, L., Popp, C., Mellon, J., & Mark, D. (1988). Clinicians can agree in assessing relationship patterns in psychotherapy. The core conflictual relationship theme method. Archives of General Psychiatry,45, 1001–1004.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Emery, E. J. (1987). Empathy: Psychoanalytic and client centered. American Psychologist,42, 513–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster, R. P. (1992). Psychoanalysis and the bilingual patient: Some observations on the influence of language choice on the transference. Psychoanalytic Psychology,9, 61–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1912). The dynamics of transference. In Standard edition (Vol. 12, pp. 209–253). London: Hogarth Press.

  • Freud, S. (1913). On beginning the treatment. In Standard edition (Vol. 12, pp. 121–144). London: Hogarth Press.

  • Freud, S. (1914). Remembering, repeating, and working through. In Standard edition (Vol. 12, pp. 145–156). London: Hogarth Press.

  • Freud, S. (1923). The ego and the id. In Standard edition (Vol. 19, pp. 12–66). London: Hogarth Press.

  • Frosch, A. (2002). Transference: Psychic reality and material reality. Psychoanalytic Psychology,19, 603–633.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelso, C. J., Palma, B., & Bhatia, A. (2013). Attachment theory as a guide to understanding and working with transference and the real relationship in psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology,69, 1160–1171.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gerald, C. C., Michelle, C. H., & Buttu, D. (2010). Recognizing odors associated with meaningful places. American Journal of Psychology,123, 281–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, A. (1997). Writing case histories. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis,78, 435–438.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenson, R. R. (1965). The working alliance and the transference neurosis. Psychoanalytic Quarterly,34, 155–181.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How many interviews are enough? An experiment with data saturation and variability. Field Methods,18(1), 59–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs, N. (1962). Sources of gain in psychotherapy. American Psychologist,17, 741–747.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jou, J. (2005). Memory retrieval tasks determine the serial position curves of linear orders with categorical structures. The American Journal of Psychology,118, 525–566.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kacen, L. (2008). Supercodes reflected in titles battered women accord to their life stories. International Journal of Qualitative Methods,1, 49–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavaler-Adler, S. (2003). Lesbian homoerotic transference in dialectic with developmental mourning: On the way to symbolism from the protosymbolic. Psychoanalytic Psychology,20, 131–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellogg, S. H., & Young, J. E. (2006). Schema therapy for borderline personality disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology,62, 445–480.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kernberg, O. F., Yeomans, F. E., Clarkin, J. F., & Levy, K. N. (2008). Transference focused psychotherapy: Overview and update. International Journal of Psychoanalysis,89, 601–620.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luborsky, L. E. (1996). The symptom-context method: Symptoms as opportunities in psychotherapy. Washington, DC: APA Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luborsky, L. (1998). A guide to the CCRT method. In L. Luborsky & P. Crits-Christoph (Eds.), Understanding transference: The Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luborsky, L., & Crits-Christoph, R. (2006). A relationship pattern measure: The core conflictual relationship theme. In A. M. Cooper (Ed.), Contemporary psychoanalysis in America: Leading analysts present their work (pp. 383–400). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luborsky, L., & Diguer, L. (1998). The reliability of CCRT measure: Results from eight studies. In L. Luborsky & P. Crits-Christoph (Eds.), Understanding transference: The core conflictual relationship theme method (2nd ed., pp. 97–107). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luborsky, L., & Luborsky, E. (2006). Research and psychotherapy: The vital link. Lanham, MD: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosak, H. H., & Fasula, A. (2011). Transference in the Light of Adlerian Psychology. Journal of Individual Psychology,67, 343–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, L. M., & Grenyer, B. F. (2007). New developments in core conflictual relationship theme (CCRT) research: A comparison of the QUAINT and CCRT–LU coding systems. Psychotherapy Research,17(4), 443–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabinovich, M. (2016). Psychodynamic emotional regulation in view of Wolpe’s desensitization model. The American Journal of Psychology,129, 65–79.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabinovich, M., & Kacen, L. (2009). Let’s look at the elephant: Metasynthesis of transference case studies for psychodynamic and cognitive psychotherapy integration. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice,82, 427–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabinovich, M., & Kacen, L. (2010). Advanced relationships between categories analysis as a qualitative research tool. Journal of Clinical Psychology,66, 698–708.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabinovich, M., & Kacen, L. (2011). Wish and overgeneralization model for psychotherapy integration. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration,21, 43–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabinovich, M., & Kacen, L. (2012). Transference in view of a classical conditioning model. American Journal of Psychology,125, 209–223.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rabinovich, M., & Kacen, L. (2013). Qualitative coding methodology for interpersonal study. Psychoanalytic Psychology,30, 210–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rilling, M. (2000). John Watson’s paradoxical struggle to explain Freud. American Psychologist,55, 301–312.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sieck, B. C. (2012). Obtaining clinical writing informed consent versus using client disguise and recommendations for practice. Psychotherapy,49(1), 3–11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1990). Open coding. In A. Strauss & J. Corbin (Eds.), Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques (pp. 101–121). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strupp, H. H. (1989). Psychotherapy: Can the practitioner learn from the researcher? American Psychologist,44, 717–724.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, H. S. (1950). The illusion of personal individuality. Psychiatry,13, 317–332.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, H. S. (1953). The interpersonal theory of psychiatry. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodhouse, S. S., Schlosser, L. Z., Crook, R. E., Ligiéro, D. P., & Gelso, C. J. (2003). Client attachment to therapist: Relations to transference and client recollections of parental caregiving. Journal of Counseling Psychology,50, 395–408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, W. (1992). The emergence of the transference storm in the psychoanalytic process. Psychoanalytic Psychology,9, 213–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, J. E., Klosko, J. S., & Weishaar, M. E. (2003). Schema therapy: A practitioner’s guide. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ashkelon Academic College, Sapir Academic College, Bar-Ilan University, P.O.B. 342, 8502500, Metar, Israel

    Merav Rabinovich

Authors
  1. Merav Rabinovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Merav Rabinovich.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rabinovich, M. Relationships Between Categories: The Context of the Symptom in Practice. J Contemp Psychother 50, 95–103 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-019-09445-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-019-09445-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation