The Power of Countertransference: A Book Review

The Power of Countertransference  by Karen Maroda

Perhaps, oe of the most influential books in the Relational psychodynamic tradition– this book is a foundational text for any clinician inside and outside the psychodynamic tradition.  This book is based off of years of Maroda’s experience and struggles working from her traditional psychoanalytic training.  Out of her struggles, she developed her method for using countertransference disclosure to open up the space in between therapist and patient, when stuck in an enactment.  

Enactments or re-enactments, are the situations or interactions that emerge between therapist and patient that are playing out in the Here and Now, and were present in the patient’s life either currently or in the past.  Re-enactments are happening often in therapy, and can be problematic if not addressed or worked through– as they are often repetitions of the client’s past relational dynamics that have caused issues or ruptures.  It is our task as therapists, to catch sight of these enactments, and attempt to work through the repetition to a new ending that can be healing and different for the patient.  Here,is where the countertransference disclosure comes into the picture.  

Though this is not always the best or wise method for getting out of an enactment– this technique can be the healing touch needed for a patient to move towards recovery and transformation.  Transference is the past experiences and relationships that the patient brings into the room, and thus projects onto the therapist.  Countertransference, in a nutshell, are these same experiences, emotions, and relationships brought by the therapist, and are often being projected unconsciously onto the patient.  While they are often perceived as getting in the way– countertransference can be the royal road to finding our patients, their issues, and their emotions.  Countertransference, when worked through with supervision or consultation- can be our way to understand to a greater degree, why the patient suffers.  And once we understand this, we can start to move towards healing through constructive disclosure of the countertransference.  

This work by Maroda, demonstrates through case examples and discussion, how to disclose the countertransference in a way that is healing and constructive– not damaging and destructive.  It is a delicate art, as therapy itself is.  If you are interested to learn more about psychodynamic therapy and relational ways of working– I highly recommend this text.  This book will last you a lifetime in your career.