The Ethics of Countertransference: Race, Gender, Religious, and Political Beliefs

1. Describe why understanding the connection between countertransference and race, gender, religious and political beliefs is crucial for ethical practice
2. Recognize and name 3 possible consequences of countertransference
3. Compare and contrast 3 methods of therapeutically and ethically addressing countertransference issues both in and out of session
4. Create ongoing countertransference management plan and apply a deeper understanding of implicit bias to same
5. Integrate relevant ethical principles and professional ethical codes into managing countertransference and self-disclosure
6. Integrate a self-care plan into ongoing practice as a way to strengthen ability to skillfully manage political countertransference

1. Definitions

1. Transference
2. Countertransference
3. Therapist self-disclosure/boundaries

• Countertransference and:

1. Race

1. Implicit bias
2. Neuroscience undergirding this concept
3. Role in countertransference situations
4. Steps for managing implicit bias
5. Recommendations

• Gender

1. Possible CT reactions
2. Gender fluidity

• Religious beliefs

1. CT reactions
2. Ethical bracketing

• Political beliefs/Therapist Political Self-Disclosure (TPSD)

1. What we know from current research
2. Most therapists deeply affected by the political climate
3. Necessity of training and peer consultation
4. Clients may welcome this discussion
5. Similarities promote stronger therapeutic alliance (convergence of beliefs)
6. Reasons to do TPSD

1. Deepen alliance
2. Flatten hierarchy
3. Increase feelings of closeness
4. Promotes social justice/especially within a multicultural orientation

• When to do TPSD

1. When there is a strong interpersonal alliance
2. When there is convergence between client and therapist
3. For a targeted clinical reason (working with shame, for example)
4. Bearing witness to client’s distress
5. Therapy as “shock absorber” (Goldsmith, 2020)
6. Holding and containment (only when you feel strong enough to manage your own countertransference reactions properly)

• Crucial to watch out for

1. Is this discussion keeping us away from deeper and more important issues?
2. Is this discussion a way for the therapist to get validation of their own beliefs?
3. Will this discussion lead to the client wanting more self-disclosure of other aspects of the therapist’s life?
4. Polarization pulls – victim and victimizer tendency
5. Temptation to descend into numbness, disengagement or dissociation

• What to do when client’s political beliefs diverge from your own?

1. Divergence vs. convergence of political belief systems
2. Find similarities in terms of values (i.e., per Braver Angels protocols)
3. Be very aware of the countertransference
4. Anger, irritation or contempt for others not believing as you do
5. Work on self-regulation
6. To be able to share differences in a non-defensive way if you feel drawn to do so
7. Remember and work on feeling a sense of liking for your client (unconditional positive regard per Carl Rogers)
8. Ramifications of not disclosing/Especially when your client is “curious” about your political stance

• How to do this

1. Our own affect needs strong regulation
2. Supportive internal self-talk in session
3. Detach with love (from AlAnon) – agape love or, if not, then at least with neutrality
4. Open letter to clients (per Bill Doherty) inviting discussion of the political landscape
5. Language to use with clients with divergent political belief systems
6. Go deep into what these beliefs mean for them in an ongoing relational way (what is going on for them that they need to engage in contentious political discourse at family events, for example?
7. Self-care and connection rather than retreat and dissociation (Goldsmith, 2020)

• Foundational ethical principles

1. Definition/explanation
2. Application to differing countertransference situations

• Relevant ethics codes/guidelines

1. APA
2. ACA
3. NASW
4. AAMFT

• Plan for self-care
• Limitations of the research

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