Origins of countertransference and core conflictual relationship theme of a psychotherapist in training as emerging in clinical supervision.

Abstract

Therapists' unresolved conflicts might be the source of countertransference phenomena. To investigate the origins of countertransference, the aim of this supervision single-case study was to identify conflictual areas that characterize private life relationships and therapeutic relationships of one therapist in training. With this aim, we applied the core conflictual relationship theme method to the analysis of the therapist's relationship episodes with patients, as emerged spontaneously during clinical supervision sessions, and to the analysis of relationship episodes concerning his personal life, collected using the relationship anecdotes paradigm interview. Quantitative data showed that core conflictual relationship theme pervasiveness scores concerning private life relationships and therapeutic relationships were significantly interrelated. Qualitative examples of these associations are provided in the paper, and the implications for supervision and training are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record