In psychotherapy, which term describes the client feeling emotions about the counselor?

• A. Transference
• B. Countertransference
• C. Parallel process
• D. Countertherapy

Answer: (A)

Transference occurs when a client directs feelings and expectations from important people in their past onto the therapist. These reactions—from love and admiration to anger or distrust—often arise unconsciously and reflect patterns formed in early relationships, such as with a parent or caregiver. The therapist’s role is to notice these patterns, interpret them gently, and use them as a way to understand the client’s current struggles and relational dynamics. This is different from countertransference, which is about the therapist’s own emotional responses to the client, not the client’s feelings about the counselor. Parallel process refers to a pattern where dynamics in the therapy relationship resemble other relationships in the client’s life, and countertherapy is not a standard term used in this context.