I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you wondering if transference takes place in relationships outside of T? If so, then yes of course that happens. Or are you wondering if someone has transference with someone outside of T that is about T? Sorry, I'm not firing quickly tonight!

I once dated someone who reminded me of my therapist, if that is what you are referring to. I often wonder if I would have even dated that person had I not been so in love with my T.

LG,

Dating someone because they reminded you of your therapist.... I once dated someone because they were a therapist.

Not my therapist, but a therapist, it didn't last long, he talked all the time, I wondered if that was a reaction to having to be so quiet at work?

sick, I know

CNC

quote:

Or are you wondering if someone has transference with someone outside of T that is about T?

That is more what I'm talking about. Like, sometimes I wonder if strong feelings/reactions I have toward my SO are really related to what is going on in therapy / with my therapist.

Sometimes I think I talk about feelings about my SO in therapy and it just seems so obvious that these are probably similar to the feelings I have about my therapist. I'll slip up and use weird vocabulary about my SO that suggests I really might have my T in mind (e.g. using words like "attuned," "engaged," etc.).
In general, I think I pull my SO closer as a defense against relying on my T. And I'll confide in my SO about feelings in order to justify not talking about them in therapy. Etc.

I'm having trouble wording this. I guess I'm wondering how common it is to act out transference feelings within a relationship with someone instead of addressing them with the T. Like... I think I read somewhere once about a patient who had repeated affairs with people who fit the same basic description (appearance, age, etc.) as his therapist and that was interpreted as being part of transference somehow.