The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy Is This My Stuff? How therapists can sort through countertransference: An Interview with Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW
Nov 13, 2023
Dr. Amy Meyers, LCSW, is a seasoned psychodynamic psychotherapist and professor, bringing nearly 30 years of experience to her discussion on countertransference. She defines countertransference in-depth, emphasizing the need for self-awareness beyond self-understanding. New clinicians often struggle with this dynamic, misunderstanding its role in therapy. Rather than avoiding it, Amy suggests embracing it as a human aspect of care. She provides practical strategies for managing countertransference and highlights how shared experiences can be navigated thoughtfully in therapeutic settings.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Depth Over Surface Self-Awareness
- Countertransference is deeper than surface self-awareness and requires deep understanding of oneself.
- That depth lets therapists distinguish what feelings come from them versus what clients project.
Get Personal Therapy And Use Supervision
- If you haven't done personal therapy, get it so you can identify your triggers and limits.
- Avoid reacting from unprocessed material by using supervision and self-work before intervening.
Avoiding Confrontation Harms Therapy
- Therapists often avoid confrontation due to their own discomfort, which undermines client work.
- Awareness of why you avoid conflict (fear, anxiety) clarifies whether apologies or defensiveness are self-protective.