Countertransference

BACKGROUND:

The term “countertransference” firstly defined by “Sigmund Freud” in 1909 in a letter in which he answered “Carl G. Jung”, who talked about his
difficulties in treating a 20-year old patient. He also observed this behavior in many of therapist who is under his supervision.

Countertransference refers to sometimes uncontrollable or disturbed feelings that the therapist brings to the therapist-patient relationship. It occurs at an unconscious level, that are formed by the therapist’s early developmental experience. Client develops the remembrance of someone for a therapist. Sometimes therapist develops feelings of love and sexual attraction towards a client It is very strictly prohibited and it is unethical to develop any kind of relationship with the client.

For example, if a male therapist feels a very strong sexual attraction to a female patient, he must understand this as counter transference and look at how the client is attempting to elicit this reaction in him.

• How to manage Countertransference?
  Therapist should resolve countertransference in supervision.The therapist should resolve the countertransference under supervision. In therapy, he most important thing is regular supervision because a supervision therapist talks to a supervisor about his or her feelings about a client and brings unconscious thoughts to consciousness through conversation and interpretation. That is why countertransference will not lead to any undesirable consequences.