Arrange the modality of treatment in psycho dynamic therapy as it progresses in a therapy session:
A. Resistance
B. Working through and Insight
C. Transference (positive / negative)
D. Confrontation and Clarification
E. Interpretation
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → C, A, D, E, B
(C) Transference (positive / negative) — as the unconscious forces come into the conscious realm through free association and dream interpretation, the client starts identifying the therapist with the authority figures of the past. In positive transference the client idolises the therapist; in negative transference s/he feels hostility and anger towards the therapist.
(A) Resistance — the process of transference is met with resistance. Since transference exposes unconscious wishes and conflicts, the client opposes the progress of therapy to protect herself/himself from painful memories.
(D) Confrontation and Clarification — the therapist overcomes the resistance by repeatedly confronting the client about it. In confrontation the therapist points out an aspect of the psyche the client must face; in clarification a vague or confusing event is brought into sharp focus. These are the two analytical techniques of interpretation.
(E) Interpretation — the more subtle process, the pinnacle of psychoanalysis: the therapist uses the uncovered material to make the client aware of the conflicts behind her or his symptoms.
(B) Working through and Insight — the repeated process of using confrontation, clarification and interpretation is known as working through, and its outcome is insight, a gradual understanding of oneself at an intellectual and emotional level. So it comes last.
Note: The modality of treatment in psychodynamic therapy (transference, resistance, interpretation and working through) was there in the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, and is not there in the NCERT book (2025-26).
NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “Modality of Treatment … Transference and Interpretation are the means of treating the patient. As the unconscious forces are brought into the conscious realm through free association and dream interpretation described above, the client starts identifying the therapist with the authority figures of the past, usually childhood. The therapist may be seen as the punitive father, or as the negligent mother. The therapist maintains a non-judgmental yet permissive attitude and allows the client to continue with this process of emotional identification. This is the process of transference.…” “…The process of transference is met with resistance. Since the process of transference exposes the unconscious wishes and conflicts, thereby increasing the distress levels, the client resists transference. Due to resistance, the client opposes the progress of therapy in order to protect herself/himself from the recall of painful unconscious memories.…” “…The therapist overcomes the resistance by repeatedly confronting the patient about it and by uncovering emotions such as anxiety, fear, or shame, which are causing the resistance.…” “…Confrontation and clarification are the two analytical techniques of interpretation.…” “…The repeated process of using confrontation, clarification, and interpretation is known as working through. Working through helps the patient to understand herself/himself and the source of the problem and to integrate the uncovered material into her/his ego. The outcome of working through is insight.…” |