LMSW Practice Test

A client complains that if the social worker really cared about him like his mother does, then the social worker would not charge him for treatment. This is an example of

1. counter-transference reaction

2. sublimation reaction

3. subjective reaction

4. transference reaction

The correct answer is: counter-transference reaction

The situation described illustrates a transference reaction, where the client projects feelings and attitudes from a significant relationship, in this case, with his mother, onto the social worker. This dynamic occurs when a client unconsciously transfers emotions and expectations associated with a particular person onto the therapist. In this scenario, the client's complaint about charges for treatment reflects his expectation that if the social worker truly cared, she would act like his mother, who may offer unconditional support without financial considerations. The underlying implication is that the client is comparing the social worker’s professional role and boundaries to that of his mother’s nurturing role, which is not the same. Recognizing transference is crucial for social workers, as it can impact the therapeutic relationship and treatment process. By understanding these dynamics, social workers can address the client's feelings and help them explore their expectations and experiences in a more constructive manner. In contrast, counter-transference involves the therapist’s own emotional reactions to the client, sublimation pertains to transforming unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions or behaviors, and subjective reaction refers more to personal interpretations or feelings that don't necessarily involve the therapeutic process dynamics at play here.