Addressing the role of the analyst in the psychoanalytic relationship, Zachrisson takes issue with the emphasis on acknowledging the analyst's

subjectivity and the criticism of concepts such as neutrality and abstinence as these are presented in the relational tradition. He advocates better articulation and emphasis of these concepts in the service of understanding the impact of the analyst's subjectivity, and demonstrates how the mere loosening up of analytic neutrality and abstinence, and a general acceptance of the analyst's self-disclosure, make transference analysis more difficult to handle. Such an attitude also increases the risk for ethically dubious conduct, since there is a close link between clinical methods and ethical standards in psychoanalysis. In conclusion, the author points to the importance of the analyst's continuous self-reflection and countertransference analysis.