Countertransference disclosure in trainee psychotherapists: implications for supervisory learning.
Date
2010-06-28T07:52:25Z
Authors
Berger, Karen Lee
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Abstract
This study investigates a specific aspect of the supervisory alliance between trainee
psychotherapists and their supervisors: the phenomenon of countertransference disclosure.
The study explores the emotionally conflicting role in which supervisees are placed, as they
are required to appear capable for their patients and for assessment purposes, whilst still
admitting to professional ignorance to their supervisors for educational purposes. Supervisees
are required to disclose their countertransference reactions to their patients in the presentation
of case material, as well as their emotional reactions to their supervisors within the
supervision context. A questionnaire developed by the researcher was answered by fifteen
past university students who completed the Clinical Master’s psychology course provided by
the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) between the years 2005-2007. Thematic content
analysis was conducted in order to analyse the data. The results showed that supervisees
chose to fully disclose, selectively disclose or completely withhold such information. All
fifteen participants acknowledged that the strength of the supervisory alliance was the main
contributing factor to disclosure or nondisclosure of information. The participants who
experienced weak alliances with their supervisors felt that their psychotherapy training was
compromised and their potential as training psychotherapists was not fulfilled. It is important
that supervisors are cognisant of the fact that supervisees are less likely to disclose
information if they do not feel secure in their alliance, which, from the supervisees’
perspectives will negatively impact upon their training.