What is countertransference in therapy?

If you’re wondering about countertransference in therapy or even asking questions like “What is countertransference in therapy?” this article has all the info you need on countertransference, including countertransference examples and the 3 types of countertransference.

If you’re exploring ways to improve your therapy practice, learning about countertransference is important.

Read on to find out what countertransference is, some examples that may occur in therapy, how it differs from transference, and how therapists can best address it.

What is countertransference in therapy?

Countertransference refers to a therapist’s responses to a client that stem from the therapist’s biases.

Every therapist, at some point, encounters countertransference—the emotional reactions or projections they have toward a client, which are influenced by the therapist’s own emotions, beliefs, assumptions, and experiences.

It’s a concept that’s both relatable and, at times, challenging to address.

While many therapists now view countertransference in therapy as an inevitable part of the therapeutic process, unchecked countertransference may cloud the therapist’s judgment and harm the therapeutic alliance.

First introduced by Sigmund Freud, the term countertransference originally carried a negative connotation—it implied that these reactions were errors to be avoided. Freud saw such reactions as a hindrance to effective therapy, and to avoid this, he emphasized the importance of the therapist maintaining constant self-awareness.

However, rather than viewing it as purely detrimental, many therapists now see countertransference in therapy as a nuanced aspect of the therapeutic relationship. Therapists now differentiate between helpful and unhelpful countertransference.

Helpful countertransference involves the therapist using their emotional reactions in an intentional way to gain deeper insight into the client’s experiences and feelings. In some cases, they may even share their feelings with clients when appropriate—usually to promote trust.

3 types of countertransference

Countertransference in therapy can take on many shapes, but the three commonly discussed types are subjective, objective, and negative countertransference.

It’s important to note that these types of countertransference are particularly common among novice therapists who are still developing their self-awareness.

Here’s more about each type:

Subjective countertransference

This happens when a therapist feels strong emotions during a therapy session because something about the client’s story or behavior reminds them of their own.

For example, a therapist who experienced parental conflict may feel overly protective toward a client discussing family challenges.

Objective countertransference

This is tied to the client’s behavior or personality, rather than the therapist’s background.

For example, if a client is very critical or distant, the therapist might feel frustrated or disconnected.

Or, if the client is overly dependent or seeks constant reassurance, the therapist might feel overwhelmed.

Noticing objective countertransference helps therapists uncover patterns in how the client interacts in their relationships outside of therapy.

Negative countertransference 

This occurs when a therapist experiences feelings like frustration or irritation toward a client, which negatively impacts their behavior.

For instance, they might unjustly express anger toward the client, offer unsolicited advice, or focus too much on their own experiences instead of supporting the client.

Countertransference examples

A therapist can recognize they are experiencing countertransference when they notice strong emotional reactions or behaviors that seem disproportionate to the session’s content.

Below are some specific examples of how countertransference in therapy may manifest:

• A client expresses frustration and the therapist feels defensive or personally attacked.
• The therapist sees themselves in the client’s situation. They feel overly sympathetic.
• Giving advice or trying to “fix” the client without being asked.
• Sharing too much personal information or becoming too invested in the client’s problems.
• Feeling emotionally drained during a session due to the client’s behavior.
• Extending the session (if the therapist feels overly protective of the client), or shortening the session (if the therapist feels disconnected).
• Revealing romantic or physical attraction to a client.

The difference between countertransference and transference

Transference and countertransference are both common in therapy, but they differ in nature.

Whereas countertransference in therapy occurs when the therapist responds to the client with their own emotional reactions, transference is when a client unconsciously redirects their feelings or expectations from someone in their life (like a parent, partner, or authority figure) onto their therapist.

For example, a client who felt ignored by a parent might think their therapist is not paying enough attention to them even if it’s not true.

Transference usually arises in clients who have unresolved childhood conflicts, insecure attachment styles, or a history of relational trauma.

Those who are emotionally sensitive may also misinterpret a therapist’s words or actions, and past negative experiences with therapists can lead to projecting old disappointments onto the current relationship.

How do therapists deal with countertransference?

Countertransference doesn’t have to derail therapy. Through self-awareness, therapists can use it as an opportunity to gain insight, both for themselves and their clients.

Here are three tips for managing countertransference in therapy:

Regular self-reflection 

Use self-reflection to identify any strong emotional reactions you may have toward a client.

You can journal after each session, do mindfulness exercises, or review therapy notes to understand whether your feelings stem from the client’s behavior or your personal history.

Seek peer consultation

It may help to discuss cases with other therapists to gain a fresh perspective, especially if you feel you’re too emotionally involved to see things clearly.

Other professionals can objectively assess the situation to identify emotional reactions that you may not have noticed.

Maintain professional boundaries 

Professional boundaries maintain the integrity of the therapeutic relationship by helping you stay objective.

Boundaries can also reduce the risk of unethical behavior, such as dual relationships (e.g., being both a friend and therapist).

As a therapist, it’s important to clearly define your role and responsibilities along with the client’s at the beginning of therapy.

Be transparent about what they can expect from the process and avoid personal involvement or interactions outside the therapeutic setting.

Closing thoughts 

Remember that countertransference in therapy isn’t inherently negative.

In fact, with self-awareness and proper management, you can turn it into a tool in therapy and maintain an effective relationship with your clients.

However, if countertransference is not recognized, it can cloud your judgment and lead to harmful consequences.

In extreme cases, it may lead to therapist burnout.

All clinicians  are encouraged to engage in regular self-reflection and practice self-care.

Such strategies allow you to remain present, grounded, and fully equipped to support clients.

Sources:

1. Prasko, J., Ociskova, M., Vanek, J., Burkauskas, J., Slepecky, M., Bite, I., Krone, I., Sollar, T., & Juskiene, A. (2022). Managing Transference and Countertransference in Cognitive Behavioral Supervision: Theoretical Framework and Clinical Application. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 15, 2129. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S369294
2. Smith, J., & Doe, A. (2024). Countertransference. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/countertransference

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