A brief look at how Malan's Triangles can assist in our understanding of Psychological Defences and their use when anxious

1. THERAPIST TRAINING: Aspects of Relationships – Couples and Families
© Peter Creagh 2010 Malan.doc
Handling the Anxiety
Defences - Hidden Feelings & Malan’s Triangle.
INTRODUCTION
This brief note will look at how we can relate the client’s anxiety with their
defences and ( unconscious or unaware ) feelings. It will examine how we can
relate these to the here and now; within us, towards others (both in the here and
now and in the recent past ) and finally to major figures ( often parental ) in the
distant past. These aspects are tied together by the concept of MALAN’s
TRIANGLES. This is a schematic method, whereby we can relate the above to
other concepts using two triangles. These will now be ‘built – up’ one at a time.
MALAN’s TRIANGLES
( Reference – Malan D ( 1979) Individual Psychotherapy & the Science of
Psychodynamics – Butterworth )
Defence Anxiety
( caused by feelings )
(D) ( A )
Hidden Feelings (H)
( Often an impulse & from early age )
No 1:- The Triangle of conflict : - Feelings – Anxiety and Defences
The above shows the triangular relationship ( this can also apply to Group
Dynamics) and Malan’s hypothesis is that the Defence is in reaction to the
Anxiety which in turn is rooted in the Hidden Feelings

2. THERAPIST TRAINING: Aspects of Relationships – Couples and Families
© Peter Creagh 2010 Malan.doc
USING MALAN’s TRIANGLES TO ASSIST CLIENTS
But how can this assist in the Counselling Room ?. Malan goes on to
introduce his second and related triangle which indicates how we might bring the
unconscious into the conscious and thereby give clients understanding and
choices. He links this with the major psychodynamic concept of ‘transference &
counter-transference’
Other ( O) Transference ( T)
( usually current or recent past ) ( usually here and now
& relate to Counsellor)
Parent ( P)
Parental Figure
( usually distant past )
No 2 :- Link Triangle – ( Other – Transference – Parental Figure )
The above triangle shows the link in the present with the major figure of the
past. The encounter and relationship with ‘the Other’ here in the present evokes
a mixture of thoughts, feelings , attitudes and behaviours which have a
‘transferred’ link with a past parental figure. The next step, for the Counsellor,
is to use this insight to inform the therapeutic alliance in the counselling room.

3. THERAPIST TRAINING: Aspects of Relationships – Couples and Families
© Peter Creagh 2010 Malan.doc
THE THERAPEUTIC LINK - PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Working with the anxiety ( A) – defence ( D) & ( hidden) feelings (H)
D A O O/T T
O/P T/P
H P
The second triangle has THREE links
O/P Feelings directed at other are derived from those directed towards parent
O/T Some form of similar feelings are directed at both Other and Therapist
T/P Transference feelings are derived from feelings about Parents.
NOTES :
1. Each triangle is stood on its apex to denotes ‘below the surface ‘
2. Aim of counselling is to reach beneath Defence & Anxiety towards hidden
feelings.
3. Other Triangle shows how these links can provide client with INSIGHT by tracing
present back to past.
4. There is a notion of ‘time’ in second triangle i.e. current and past
5. Interventions by counsellor can be guided by these triangles and assisting
clients to make the links.
6. When clients are ‘blocked’ look for patterns- what are they defending
against ?
A COMPLEMENTARY EXERCISE NOW FOLLOWS

4. THERAPIST TRAINING: Aspects of Relationships – Couples and Families
© Peter Creagh 2010 Malan.doc
Handling the Anxiety - MALAN’s TRIANGLES
EXPERIENTIAL EXERCISE
HOW WE HANDLE UNCONSCIOUS FEELINGS
1. Think of a feeling you like to keep to yourself and note this
down.
2. Think of a particular circumstance you MIGHT BE IN where
YOU are ANXIOUS that this ( feeling above ) might get known
or be felt by and /or noticed by somebody else.
3. Now ask yourself ‘What defence / defences might I employ
to reduce or prevent this ?
4. Share the total experience with a partner.
5. Reflect on whole exercise with the large group.