Countertransference describes what happens when a therapist gets drawn into the transference dynamic due to lack of boundaries or lack of awareness. (It can also describe a therapist's independently getting caught up in transferring their own feelings to a client.)
How do I stop countertransference?
The factors that help manage countertransference in psychotherapy (but I suggest are as relevant to coaching) are:
- Empathy.
- Self-insight.
- Conceptual ability.
- High therapist self-integration (i.e. the less unresolved inner conflicts the therapist has)
- Low therapist anxiety.
Why is countertransference important in therapy?
Countertransference is an excellent reminder that clinicians are human beings with feelings and emotions. During a session, a client may open up and bare their souls causing a strong emotional reaction. The experience of the clinician during the session can affect the outcome.
