Discussion of Joseph M. Natterson's Article, Extra-Analytic Transference: A Two-Way Tide

In drawing our attention to the fact that many problems in the handling of transference still remain to be elucidated, Dr. Natterson has given us much to think about. It is also true, however, that the discussion of transference is the discussion of the whole of psychoanalysis, and I will have to content myself, therefore, with making only one or two points stimulated by this paper.

I certainly do not intend to play the game of re-interpreting someone else's interpretations, which is both easy to do and pointless. One has to accept that the analyst on the spot is in the best position to make a correct interpretation. In criticizing his interpretation, it is easy to forget that the information he conveys to us about his choice of interpretation of necessity omits numerous other observations that he made at the time. He has neither the space to report all these observations nor even the means, as many of his conclusions are based on information which is subtle, barely perceived, and frequently even unconscious. So rather than criticize Dr. Natterson's

conclusions, I would like to point out some alternatve possibilities concerning the problem he describes.

I have only one specific criticism concerning the clinical work described. The analyst had been experiencing certain difficulties with the patient, Mr. G., and was also aware of a countertransference reaction which he now felt illuminated the problem. Now, as I understand it, instead of using the countertransference as an aid to understanding the problem and interpreting what the patient was doing to the analyst, the analyst conveyed his actual countertransference feelings to the patient. “He discussed this transference-countertransference development with Mr. G….” Note “he discussed,” not “he interpreted.” In other words, the analyst conveyed to the patient what was going on in his own mind. I do not think this is ever justified; in fact, it is a breach of analytic technique, and I believe that any “improvement” wh