Managing Transference and Countertransference in Cognitive Behavioral Supervision: Theoretical Framework and Clinical Application

Abstract

Jan Prasko,1– 4 Marie Ociskova,1 Jakub Vanek,1 Julius Burkauskas,5 Milos Slepecky,2 Ieva Bite,6 Ilona Krone,7 Tomas Sollar,2 Alicja Juskiene8 1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 2Department of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Science and Health Care, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovak Republic; 3Department of Psychotherapy, Institute for Postgraduate Training in Health Care, Prague, Czech Republic; 4Rehabilitation Hospital Jessenia Inc, Akeso Holding, Beroun, Czech Republic; 5Behavioral Medicine Clinic, Faculty of Nursing, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Institute of Neuromedicine, Kaunas, Lithuania; 6University of Latvia, Latvian Association of CBT, Riga, Latvia; 7Riga’s Stradins University, Latvian Association of CBT, Riga, Latvia; 8Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, LithuaniaCorrespondence: Jan Prasko, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University in Olomouc, University Hospital, I. P. Pavlova 6, Olomouc, 775 20, Czech Republic, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: Dysfunctional patterns, beliefs, and assumptions that affect a patient’s perception of other people often affect their perceptions and behaviours towards the therapist. This tendency has been traditionally called transference for its psychoanalytical roots and presents an important factor to monitor and process. In supervision, it is important to put the patient’s transference in the context of the conceptualization of the case. Countertransference occurs when the therapist responds complementary to the patient’s transference based on their own dysfunctional beliefs or assumptions. Transference and countertransference provide useful insights into the inner world of the patient, therapist, and supervisor. Guided discovery is one of the most common approaches used by a supervisor and a supervisee to map all types and directions of transference and countertransference. Other options to map transference and countertransference are imagery and role-playing techniques.Keywords: supervision, cognitive behavioral therapy, therapeutic relationship, supervisory relationship, transference, countertransference

Keywords

• supervision / cognitive behavioral therapy/ therapeutic relationship /supervisory relationship / transference / countertransference