Politics in the Consulting Room: Hate in the Countertransference Revisited

Abstract

This paper focuses on the way political ideas infused the psychoanalytic treatment of Mr. N., a man who struggled with low self-esteem, paranoia, and rage. Mr. N. became increasingly identified with Republican political goals and attacked what he considered my Democratic political views and legislative advocacy. The way that his anger became focused on my political activity had a profound impact on me, leading to strong countertransference feelings of depression and hate. The ways that I tried to accept and use this countertransference in the treatment are summarized, in the context of D.W. Winnicott’s paper on “Hate in the Countertransference” and others. During the course of the treatment Mr. N. became less judgmental of others and himself, learned to give and accept love, and developed the capacity for self-reflection through use of the therapeutic relationship.