Countertransference In The Workplace: A Case Study

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

Therapists often face many ethical dilemmas in their therapeutic relationships with their clients. Countertransference is one ethical dilemma that is seen quite often in therapy and often goes unnoticed until the therapist becomes aware of this feeling. Countertransference is caused when the therapist begins to involve their own projections and feelings toward their client, or their clients ' situation that may potentially distort the way they perceive and react to their client in therapy (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2015, p.49). This sort of conflict often happens when the therapist begins to lose objectivity towards the client, causing their emotional reactions to become more intensified during therapy. These

This emotional response can vary from irritation, anger, affection, feeling of empathy or even a recollection of my past life experiences that I once had myself. This could lead to causing my advice to differ then it usually would, and in a sense cause me to give advice that will allow me to unconsciously live "vicariously" through my client and their issues. I believe that the unavoidable power inequality can also come to play here with this form of countertransference, initially due to the client’s vulnerable locus of control. They come and they seek the counselor 's advice asking what to do, kind of like " Mirror, Mirror on the wall … where do I go from here?", with me being the mirror, in turn making my answer want to be what I would do or what I would have done differently in my past experience. The idea of vicariously living through my client come through the countertransference that is taking place, due to my cloudy judgment

Counselors may allow their own personal experiences and histories to cloud the direction of their treatment due to personal conflicts in their lives. Counselors often ignore the feelings that their clients create in them. In order for me to deal with this type of situation ethically and effectively I would first have to accept the countertransference that is at hand, and seek personal therapy. Therapy will enable me to share my countertransference concerns, and become aware when they are taking place. It is important that I acknowledge these feelings and deal with them right away before it can effect therapy with the client, by seeking personal therapy or consolidation with a colleague or professional. Through me becoming aware of the situation it enables me to maintain a professional healthy relationship and bias with the client. Therapy will allow me to learn how to observe, acknowledge confront, and deal with the situation ethically, and right away when it starts to happen. It can also allow me to identify and explore my blind spots that I am confronted with through my clients, and will allow me to help set my personal life away from work, and help succeed professionally. I believe that through personal therapy, it will enable me to engage in my own personal self-awareness and overall well-being, and decrease the possibility of burnout that comes with the profession. Therapy will also help develop my career goal and aspirations in a positive way in helping me