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Countertransference struggles of mental health psychotherapists

Berg, Johan LU orcid (2025) In Social Work in Mental Health
Abstract

This study explored the struggles of countertransference (i.e., psychotherapist’s feelings and reactions) through interviews with 20 mental health therapists. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (1) personal vulnerability activated in the therapeutic relationship, (2) difficult-to-endure or obstructive feelings (e.g., aversion or burdening discomfort), (3) secondary distressing reactions elicited by the aforementioned, and (4) frustration related to issues in the organizational setting outside the therapeutic dyad. These themes were interconnected by underlying challenges related to feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy. Aspects of the wider context of therapy (outside the therapeutic dyad) seemed significant in relation to the... (More)

This study explored the struggles of countertransference (i.e., psychotherapist’s feelings and reactions) through interviews with 20 mental health therapists. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (1) personal vulnerability activated in the therapeutic relationship, (2) difficult-to-endure or obstructive feelings (e.g., aversion or burdening discomfort), (3) secondary distressing reactions elicited by the aforementioned, and (4) frustration related to issues in the organizational setting outside the therapeutic dyad. These themes were interconnected by underlying challenges related to feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy. Aspects of the wider context of therapy (outside the therapeutic dyad) seemed significant in relation to the mental health therapist’s countertransference.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Countertransference, mental health therapists, psychotherapy, qualitative research, thematic analysis, therapists’ experience
in
Social Work in Mental Health
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:105014000057
ISSN
1533-2985
DOI
10.1080/15332985.2025.2550342
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
458e6825-1d7a-4fa2-a25e-b42d33f5f459
date added to LUP
2025-11-17 13:36:09
date last changed
2025-11-17 13:38:38
@article{458e6825-1d7a-4fa2-a25e-b42d33f5f459,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study explored the struggles of countertransference (i.e., psychotherapist’s feelings and reactions) through interviews with 20 mental health therapists. Thematic analysis resulted in four themes: (1) personal vulnerability activated in the therapeutic relationship, (2) difficult-to-endure or obstructive feelings (e.g., aversion or burdening discomfort), (3) secondary distressing reactions elicited by the aforementioned, and (4) frustration related to issues in the organizational setting outside the therapeutic dyad. These themes were interconnected by underlying challenges related to feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy. Aspects of the wider context of therapy (outside the therapeutic dyad) seemed significant in relation to the mental health therapist’s countertransference.</p>}},
  author       = {{Berg, Johan}},
  issn         = {{1533-2985}},
  keywords     = {{Countertransference; mental health therapists; psychotherapy; qualitative research; thematic analysis; therapists’ experience}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Social Work in Mental Health}},
  title        = {{Countertransference struggles of mental health psychotherapists}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2025.2550342}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/15332985.2025.2550342}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}