Transference focused psychotherapy (TFP) is a type of psychodynamic therapy that was developed by Otto Kernberg to treat personality disorders, particularly for patients with borderline and narcissistic disorders. This is a therapy with psychoanalytic roots, but unlike psychoanalysis itself, it is a more structured technique.
Transference focused psychotherapy is based on object relations theory. This is a belief system that assumes that the human psyche consists of internal objects, or patterns. These models represent significant people and situations. Object relations theory suggests that relationships with other people, as well as situations and reactions to them, stem from childhood. For example, if in childhood a child was rewarded only for good grades or good behavior, and in other cases he was neglected or scolded, then in adulthood he will try to earn the attention of a significant person and feel his worth only if he does something important or good. Or if a child was beaten as a child, as an adult he will seek relationships with people who can also show cruelty, since this model of behavior is understandable and familiar to him.
1. Sharp shifts in self-perception (for example, in one case a person will feel competent and cope with tasks and problems, and in another case, he will feel incompetent and loss of control).
2. Features of emotional regulation. Very often, people with borderline disorder are unable to control strong emotions. These emotions need to be processed and understood.
3. Difficulties in building relationships with other people.
The main goal of transference-focused therapy is to change character structure and habitual patterns, improve functioning in everyday life, and build close, trusting relationships. The main tools for working with patients are psychoanalytic techniques. During sessions, the patient could show dysfunctional patterns with the psychotherapist, thanks to which they can analyze them, work with thoughts, relationships with people in real life. In other words, this method of therapy helps to overcome problems in a controlled environment. Thanks to the neutrality of the psychotherapist, the patient can observe his experiences together with the specialist. This is the essence of transference. At the same time, the patient can express absolutely any emotions - the therapist can contain them and cope with them.
Working using the TFP method presupposes clear rules for the sessions. The patient understands what his job is and what the therapist’s job is. First, it is important for the therapist to establish a trusting relationship with the patient since patients with borderline disorder are often quite hostile. At the second stage, the specialist studies the patient’s emotions, personality, and self-awareness, as well as behavioral patterns. While working on certain behavior patterns or self-awareness, agg ressive manifestations on the part of the patient are possible, the therapist may encounter destructive defense mechanisms or other reactions. Each such episode provides an opportunity to focus on the patient’s behavior, pay attention to his emotions, analyze, and understand them.
Gradually, the patient takes responsibility for his actions as he learns to independently identify such moments of switching emotions. This gives him the opportunity to realize his actions and decide how to react next time in a similar situation. The patient realizes that he can manage his symptoms more constructively and interact with people differently.
TFP, unlike other methods, involves working with a deeper psychological landscape of the individual. Therapy in this case is aimed not just at relieving symptoms, but at treating the immediate causes that led to this condition.