Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
countertransference
The analyst's emotional reaction to the patient, including unconscious responses that may interfere with or inform treatment.
Full Definition
A psychoanalytic concept referring to the analyst's conscious and unconscious emotional responses to the patient during therapy. Originally viewed as a hindrance to treatment, modern psychoanalysis recognizes countertransference as valuable clinical information that can enhance understanding of the patient's internal world. Proper management of countertransference through self-analysis and supervision is essential for maintaining therapeutic neutrality and effectiveness.
Usage
Usage note: Often hyphenated as counter-transference in older texts, but contemporary usage prefers the single word form.
In Context
- "The analyst's countertransference reaction provided insight into the patient's projective mechanisms." — Supervision notes
- "Managing countertransference is crucial for maintaining the analytic frame." — Training manual
Also known as
analyst's transference
Contrasted with
transference
Don't confuse with
transference
projection