The Id and the Regulatory Principles of Mental Functioning by Max Schur

The authors draw on their experience as male and female cotherapists with a group of adults having a history of incest. These patients repeat in therapy numerous roles learned in childhood. These roles influence countertransference through projective identification, inducing role suction and/or role reversals. Acknowledging the pressure to assume these roles facilitates treatment. The role fluctuations may cause additional confusion.

Countertransference experiences are described, ranging from disbelief, revulsion, and rage, to fantasies of rescue, feelings of attraction, and defensive fears. The authors were, on and off, deskilled by their extraordinarily intense countertransference responses when treating the emotional scars of incest.