Countertransference reactions in treatment with the bereaved.
Countertransference is a constant occurrence in the therapeutic interaction between psychotherapist and patient. This article provides a brief discussion of countertransference and explores the particular challenges psychotherapists encounter when working with bereaved patients. A clinical vignette describes the dangers of unconscious defense against the experience of loss and emphasizes the importance of recognizing grieving as a natural and restorative process.
Gelo
Florence
F
Drexel University College of Medicine, Division of Medical Humanities, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129-1096, USA. Florence.Gelo@DrexelMed.edu
D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000379:methods; D014167:Transference, Psychology