Social Work Exam Human Behavior Practice Test 2026 – Complete Prep

Transference is a key element in Freud's work that is highly regarded in the context of social casework. It refers to the process where clients project feelings, thoughts, and attitudes from past relationships onto the social worker or therapist. This phenomenon is essential for understanding the client's inner world and emotional landscape, allowing the social worker to gain insight into the client's experiences and relational dynamics.

In social casework, transference is utilized to help clients explore their feelings and behaviors within a safe therapeutic environment. By recognizing and addressing these projections, social workers can build a stronger therapeutic alliance, foster trust, and support the client in their healing process. Transference can often bring unconscious patterns to the surface, providing valuable information that informs treatment and intervention strategies.

While other concepts like countertransference, defense mechanisms, and projection are also important in psychoanalytic theory and practice, transference plays a particularly foundational role in establishing the relationship dynamics that are critical for effective social work practice. Understanding transference allows social workers to navigate emotional responses in both the client and themselves, thereby enhancing the therapeutic process.