Erotic transference
Hi all, looking for some support here and I will talk to a trusted colleague as well.
I'm not new to private practice, but for the first time I have a client that I'm experiencing erotic countertransference towards. It feels like we naturally get along very well- it's an easy fit in terms of personality, sense of humor, etc. Over about a year, the client has started asking me more personal questions and making jokes that are more personal/almost flirtatious feeling. Nothing that feels disrespectful, but more like friendly banter. It honestly feels good to have a client I genuinely enjoy seeing and working with. I do feel an attraction to the client but nothing that feels overwhelming. However, I think that I have become less professional and more casual with this client than I might be otherwise.
The client has never brought up any feelings towards me, besides voicing an appreciation for our work together. I'm not sure if I should see this as a good thing that the client and I have a relationship that feels positive and energized, or if I am no longer as good of a therapist for this client due to my feelings. Any thoughts on how others have dealt with similar situations is appreciated. I'd like to hear from psychoanalytically trained therapists who have more knowledge in this area- I don't think it's helpful to say just refer out. I'm not worried about actually doing anything with this client I just need help working with the feelings in a constructive manner.