![]() Boyer & Hoffman (1993) found that while some therapists reported being able to tolerate clients’ experiences of termination and loss, other therapists, specifically those who had prior personal losses, struggled with the termination process. ![]() There is some indication that therapists have difficulties dealing with clients’ emotions about their prior therapists. Not only do clients struggle through the transfer therapists, too, can experience challenges working with transfer clients. Clients who felt their transfers were “successful” reported that their therapists had helped them deal with their reactions to the transfer. These clients also reported that it was helpful when the new therapist and clinic helped them cope with these feelings. (2014) found that clients often reported feeling anxiety, fear, sadness, and anger about the transfer. The way the new therapist helps the client cope after the transfer can also minimize negative effects. In essence, the prior therapy relationship and the experience of surviving a transfer can bolster clients through the transfer process. (1986) found that clients with a long prior therapy relationship or prior experience of being transferred were less likely to drop out of therapy after a transfer compared to those who did not. Others describe clients’ feelings of abandonment, grief, and loss when transferred (Clark, Cole, & Robertson, 2014) anger/rage towards the transferring and new therapists (Penn, 1990) and feelings of unworthiness (Penn, 1990).ĭespite the literature describing negative client experiences after being transferred, studies by Clark, Robertson, Keen, and Cole (2011) and Wapner et al. Keith (1966) coined the term “transfer syndrome” to describe the difficult emotions and behavioral changes experienced by clients who end treatment with one therapist and begin treatment with another. There has been some research indicating a dropout rate as high as 69% following a transfer (Tantam & Klerman, 1979 Wapner et al., 1986). The purpose of this short article is to identify some potentially important considerations for both new and experienced therapists working with clients who have had prior therapy relationships. This is consistent with our personal training experiences as well. In our recent study of therapists-in-training working with transfer clients (Marmarosh et al., in press), almost all of the trainees reported that they had been provided little to no training in how to work with clients who have had prior therapists. In my adult practice (BT), over half of my clients have had at least one prior therapist, with several having had as many as four prior therapists. Clients also stop working with therapists when they have achieved their goals, move or have financial issues, or do not feel a connection to or find the therapist helpful. Clients are often transferred from one therapist to another in clinics when therapists-in-training leave at the end of their training, or when therapists retire, can no longer help a client, or take a leave due to health reasons (Penn, 1990 Super, 1982 Wapner, Klein, Friedlander, & Andrasik, 1986). ![]() It is ironic that while most therapists champion the role of the therapeutic relationship in the success of therapy, there has been little research on how the transfer process and prior therapy relationships may have an impact on the therapeutic relationship. ![]()
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