Dissertation_-_George_Kapetangeorgis.pdf

This study investigates, through an in depth qualitative analysis, concerning the experience of therapists, in dealing with and managing their negative countertranference reactions, in the here and now of the therapeutic relationship.

In this study, six participants from different theoretical orientations (psychodynamic, CBT, Integrative Counseling Psychotherapy) were interviewed, by using semi-structured interviews, where the transcrpits of those, they were analysed in accordance with the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) principles.

From this analysis three master themes emerged:

1) Focusing on therapeutic relationship and management of countertransference

2) Inner processing of therapists

3) Immediacy in the here and now

The findings of the analysis highlight the different factors that can influence therapy such as:

- the quality of the therapeutic relationship

- the communication and the interaction within the session

the theoretical concepts from different therapeutic approaches

- the work that a therapist does with himself consdering the awareness of his countertransference reactions

- the theoretical conceptualization of what is the countertransference