THERAPEUTIC LOVE AND ITS PERMUTATIONS.

Compensatory treatment theory rooted in object relations and self psychology is typically silent about issues of love in the therapeutic relationship, particularly the erotic and sensually infused affects and enactments that may permeate patient-therapist interactions, even in the treatment of preoedipal patients. This paper presents a series of case reports in which the therapist consciously or unconsciously experienced some permutation of love in response to the patient's loving and/or erotic feelings. The central thesis is that patients benefit when therapists recognize the sensual components in transference-countertransference interactions and use them to inform therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]