What is the term for when clients project feelings from past relationships onto the therapist?

The term for when clients project feelings from past relationships onto the therapist is transference. This concept is essential in psychotherapy, as it involves the client's transfer of emotions, desires, and expectations from their previous relationships onto the therapist. This dynamic can reveal underlying issues and is instrumental for the therapeutic process, allowing clients to explore and understand their feelings in a safe environment.

Transference can happen in various forms, including positive feelings of affection or negative feelings such as anger or frustration, based on the client’s personal history. The therapist's ability to recognize and work with transference can lead to significant insights for the client, often facilitating healing and personal growth.

Countertransference refers to the therapist's emotional reaction to a client, while projection and displacement involve different psychological mechanisms that are not specifically tied to the therapeutic relationship as described in the context of transference.