A Trainee’s Guide to Conceptualizing Countertransference in Marriage and Family Therapy Supervision

Abstract

Countertransference has special significance in the field of marriage and family therapy because there are more points of countertransference activation when working with couple and family relationships than with an individual. While the typical self-awareness portion of graduate studies is important, this article prepares trainees to understand why their openness to working with their countertransference in supervision is critical to their development as a therapist. Through the presentation of a unique model of countertransference interactions, a case example, an exploration of the important role of clinical supervision in effectively addressing countertransference, and examples of how to explore countertransference, this article supports the trainee in learning both how to address countertransference that may inhibit the family’s progress and how to enhance clinical results by making effective use of countertransference.