ERIC Number: EJ997437
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0075-417X
EISSN: N/A
The Grandmaternal Transference in Parent-Infant/Child Psychotherapy
Dugmore, Nicola
Journal of Child Psychotherapy, v39 n1 p59-75 2013
The psychic significance of the figure of the grandmother in psychodynamic psychotherapy has received scant attention. This paper develops the concept of the "grandmaternal transference" in parent-infant psychotherapy and explores its identification, its possible functions and its therapeutic significance. The grandmaternal transference has special relevance to parent-infant psychotherapy since the grandmother often represents both the mother's mother and the child's grandmother and offers a unique third position between mother and child. Three clinical vignettes illustrate how the grandmaternal transference may operate in this third position. In the first vignette, the therapist becomes in the transference a "containing" grandmother thereby facilitating maternal containment. In the second case, the therapist may be experienced as a "differentiating" grandmother able to help mother and infant with separation and individuation. In the third one, the therapist is transferentially experienced as a "paternal" grandmother who acts as a pseudo-father able to embody the paternal function. In each of these positions, the transference and countertransference--whether positive or negative--require that the therapist responds to rather than enacts the grandmaternal role. The three configurations of the grandmaternal transference have different clinical manifestations and offer different therapeutic ports of entry. (Contains 3 figures and 7 notes.)
Descriptors: Vignettes, Psychotherapy, Infants, Mothers, Grandparents, Role, Counselor Client Relationship, Parent Child Relationship
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A