This occurs when the client unconsciously transfers emotions and attitudes onto the counsellor that they associate with people from their past.

This is known as transference. It's a psychological phenomenon where a person redirects feelings and desires, often unconsciously, from their past onto a new object - in this case, the counselor. This can include a range of emotions such as love, anger, or jealousy. It's a concept most commonly associated with Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory.

Here are the steps:

1. The client begins therapy with the counselor.
2. As the client discusses their past experiences and relationships, they may start to associate the counselor with significant people from their past.
3. The client may start to project their feelings about these past individuals onto the counselor. This could be positive (like feelings of love or admiration) or negative (like anger or disappointment).
4. This projection is often unconscious - the client may not realize they're transferring these emotions onto the counselor.
5. The counselor, aware of the possibility of transference, can use this as a therapeutic tool to help the client understand and resolve their past experiences and feelings.