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| Features of Countertransference |
Countertransference refers to the psychotherapist’s emotional, cognitive, somatic, and behavioral responses to a client, shaped by the psychotherapist’s personal history, values, vulnerabilities, and relational patterns. These reactions occur within the psychotherapist but are evoked by the client’s presence, narrative, or interpersonal behavior patterns (Sutton, 2026, August 5).
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Countertransference is one of the most powerful forces in psychotherapy — and one of the least openly discussed. Psychotherapists are trained to listen deeply, attune carefully, and maintain professional boundaries, yet the emotional impact of clients’ stories can be profound. Some sessions evoke reactions that surprise even seasoned clinicians: grief that lingers after hearing a child’s account of abuse, anger rising in response to a teen’s disclosure of sexual assault, or a sudden wave of protectiveness toward a vulnerable client.
These reactions are not signs of weakness or poor training. They are signs of humanity — and they are central to the therapeutic encounter. Understanding countertransference allows psychotherapists to use these reactions as sources of insight rather than sources of risk.
Cite this post
Sutton, G. W. (2026, August 5). Countertransference: The psychotherapist’s emotional mirror. Psychology Concepts and Theories. https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2026/08/countertransference-psychotherapists.html
What Countertransference Is
— A Deep Definition
Countertransference refers to the psychotherapist’s emotional, cognitive, somatic, and behavioral responses to a client, shaped by the psychotherapist’s personal history, values, vulnerabilities, and relational patterns. These reactions occur within the psychotherapist but are evoked by the client’s presence, narrative, or interpersonal behavior patterns (Sutton, 2026, August 5).
Modern psychotherapy views countertransference as a relational phenomenon, not a flaw. It can be a multidimensional experience (e.g., SCOPES) for a clinician including:
Self- especially self-identity (parent, gender)
Cognitive shifts (over identification, judgment, rescuing impulses, idealization)
Overt Behavioral impulses (advising, avoiding, confronting, soothing, oversharing)
Physiological responses (tension, heaviness, fatigue, agitation)
Emotional reactions (sadness, irritation, protectiveness, anger, affection, boredom)
Social context (past and relationships and spaces; people like the client and those in the client’s narratives and the spaces relevant to the client’s experiences).
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Countertransference is not simply “the psychotherapist’s stuff.” It is the intersection of two emotional worlds — the psychotherapist’s and the client’s — and it is always present.
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COMPARE: Read about transference at this link.
The Emotional Depth of Countertransference
Although some countertransference reactions are subtle, others are intense and unmistakable. The intense experiences can catch clinicians off guard. Psychotherapists may:
• Cry after hearing a child’s trauma narrative
• Feel anger or moral outrage toward perpetrators
• Experience protectiveness bordering on parental concern
• Feel unexpectedly irritated or impatient
• Carry a sense of grief long after the session ends
• Feel pulled toward rescuing or caretaking
• Experience discomfort, boredom, or emotional withdrawal
These reactions often arise when:
• The client’s story resonates with the psychotherapist’s personal history
• The psychotherapist’s moral or ethical values are activated
• The client’s vulnerability evokes caretaker or parental schemas
• The psychotherapist feels powerless in the face of injustice
• The psychotherapist is deeply empathically attuned
Recognizing these reactions is essential.
Awareness transforms countertransference into a clinical tool; unawareness turns it into a liability.
Types and Subtypes of Countertransference
Although clinicians often speak informally about “types” of countertransference — parental, sexual, rescue, hostile — the literature identifies two foundational categories, plus several clinically useful subtypes.
The Two Foundational Types of Countertransference
1. Subjective vs. Objective Countertransference
This distinction focuses on where the reaction originates. As a clinician, I suggest caution in overvaluing the idea of "objective" because of the subjectivity of any observer experiencing a patient's behavior.
Subjective Countertransference
Reactions arising primarily from the psychotherapist’s own history, personality, unresolved issues, or vulnerabilities.
Examples:
• Identification or over identification
• Oversharing common stories
• Rescue fantasies
• Sexual attraction
• Parental responses
• Guilt feelings
• Idealization
• Customer service detachment
These reactions tell us more about the psychotherapist’s internal world than about the client.
Objective Countertransference
Reactions that reflect the client’s interpersonal style or the emotional impact they have on others.
Examples:
• Anger or hostility toward the client
• Boredom
• Feeling irked, paralyzed, or confused
• Feeling admiration or protectiveness
• Urges to give excessive advice or support
These reactions often mirror what others in the client’s life feel — making them diagnostically valuable.
2. Positive vs. Negative Countertransference
This distinction focuses on the valence of the psychotherapist’s emotional response.
Positive Countertransference
Warm, protective, affectionate, admiring, or overly positive reactions.
Examples:
• Liking the client “too much”
• Idealizing the client
• Rescue fantasies
• Excess support
• Attempts to connect beyond psychotherapy
• Viewing the client as special
Positive countertransference can enhance empathy but risks boundary drift and loss of objectivity.
Negative Countertransference
Critical, rejecting, irritated, bored, or hostile reactions.
Examples:
• Anger or hostility
• Contempt
• Feeling bored or emotionally shut down
• Excess criticism
• Rejecting or disapproving of the client
Negative countertransference is more likely to harm the therapeutic alliance if unrecognized.
Clinically Useful Subtypes
These subtypes are not separate “types” in the theoretical sense but patterns that fall under the foundational categories. Perhaps with more research, we will learn more about the features of these "subtypes" as relevant to psychotherapy.
A. Relational/Role Based Subtypes
• Parental
: protective, nurturing, authoritative
• Rescue
: compelled to save or fix
• Idealizing
: admiring or exalting
• Customer service
: detached professionalism
B. Affective Subtypes
• Hostile or angry
• Guilt based
• Bored or disengaged
• Warm, affectionate, protective
C. Boundary Risk Subtypes
• Excess personal disclosure
• Attempts to connect beyond psychotherapy
• Excess advice giving
• Excess criticism
• Excess support
• Sexual attraction
These patterns often precede enactment and require careful attention.
Why Countertransference Matters
Here are some considerations. Perhaps your professor or supervisor has more ideas.
1. It protects the therapeutic relationship
Unexamined countertransference can lead to boundary drift, over involvement, withdrawal, or misattuned interventions.
2. It provides diagnostic insight
Psychotherapists often feel what others in the client’s life feel — frustration, helplessness, protectiveness, confusion.
3. It deepens empathy
Understanding one’s own reactions helps the psychotherapist understand the client’s internal world.
4. It supports ethical practice
Awareness prevents acting out personal needs, biases, or unresolved conflicts.
What Psychotherapists Should Do for Themselves
1. Notice the reaction without judgment
Curiosity is more useful than self criticism.
2. Reflect on personal history
Ask whether the reaction echoes past experiences or family roles.
3. Slow down
Strong countertransference often signals the need for pacing or grounding.
4. Use supervision or consultation
Discussing countertransference with trusted colleagues clarifies meaning and prevents enactment.
5. Maintain boundaries
Strong feelings can tempt psychotherapists to over function or over disclose.
6. Practice self-care
Intense sessions require emotional recovery — time, reflection, movement, journaling, or personal psychotherapy.
Cautions About Self Disclosure
Self disclosure related to countertransference must be rare, intentional, and in the client’s best interest. Psychotherapists should avoid:
• Sharing personal trauma
• Revealing anger or distress
• Using disclosure to relieve their own emotional burden
• Confessing reactions that shift focus away from the client
Appropriate disclosure is always clinical, not emotional.
When in doubt, psychotherapists should not disclose and instead seek consultation.
When Psychotherapists Should Seek Supervision or Consultation
Supervision is essential when:
• Countertransference is intense or persistent
• The psychotherapist feels confused, overwhelmed, or reactive
• The psychotherapist notices urges to rescue, confront, or avoid
• The psychotherapist’s personal history feels activated
• The psychotherapist is unsure how to proceed ethically
Consultation is not a sign of weakness; it is a hallmark of responsible practice.
Closing Thoughts
Countertransference is not an obstacle to psychotherapy — it is part of psychotherapy. It is the psychotherapist’s emotional mirror, reflecting both the client’s relational world and the psychotherapist’s humanity. When approached with awareness, humility, and support, countertransference becomes a powerful source of insight, empathy, and connection.
Disclosure Statement
This article is intended for educational purposes only. It offers general information about countertransference and related clinical concepts and is not a substitute for professional training, supervision, or therapeutic consultation. The material should not be interpreted as clinical advice for any specific case or situation. Psychotherapists and mental health professionals are encouraged to seek supervision, consultation, or additional training when addressing countertransference concerns in their own practice.
Post Author
Find chapters and essays on Substack. [ @GeoffreyWSutton ]
A Psychotherapist's Handbook
Flourishing in Six Dimensions
Sutton, G. W. (2026). Flourishing in six dimensions: The SCOPES framework. Sunflower. ISBN 979-8199903981
Resources
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Countertransference has historically been a part of preparation for clinicians in psychodynamically oriented therapy programs. Prasko et al. (2022) offer insights for supervisees of CBT therapists.
Prasko, J., Ociskova, M., Vanek, J., Burkauskas, J., Slepecky, M., Bite, I., Krone, I., Sollar, T., & Juskiene, A. (2022). Managing Transference and Countertransference in Cognitive Behavioral Supervision: Theoretical Framework and Clinical Application. Psychology research and behavior management, 15, 2129–2155. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S369294
In a correctional setting, mental health professionals can experience strong reactions to clients’ personality and trauma. See Mulay & Cain, 2018) for example.
Mulay, A. L., & Cain, N. M. (2018). Managing countertransference in correctional treatment settings: An updated perspective. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 18(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/24732850.2017.1402166
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