Hi Askalot,

Welcome to the forums, I don't think we've "spoken" before. I don't have a good recommendation for an introductory book about transference as any books I have read on the topic are text books for therapists and pretty heavy going. I do, however, know of some pretty good articles written by T's for the client, including Shrinklady, who does a bang up job of explaining. I've provided a few links below. My favorite way of looking at transference is that our early experiences teach us a relational pattern that strongly influences how we see relationships and what we expect. So when someone in our present acts, and especially a therapist who tends to carry a lot of symbolic weight, it gets filtered through that understanding. So in sense we're expecting our T to act in the same manner as our early caregivers even though they're a completely different person, because that's what we learned to expect. I hope the articles are helpful.

A Client's Guide to Transference by Ryan Howe

How to Deal with Transference by Dr. Susan LaCombe (Shrinklady)

BTW, if you're new to the theory, I would do more reading on myshrink.com, Dr. LaCombe's website on which this forum is hosted. She does a really amazing job of explaining the basics of therapy in a very clear, easy to understand, jargon free manner. I would also highly recommend Dr. Jeff Smith's blog Moments of Change. Searching on transference should turn up some pertinent articles. His book How We Heal and Grow is also excellent, my therapist loved it. 

AG

Hello Attachment Girl and thank you for your answer!

Could I ask if Transference occurs when psychotic men (sorry, I don’t know the official definition of this term) very often believe that there are strong-male enemies who want to take away from them, idealized women?

Thank you,

Askalot.