Overview

Dr Claire Cartwright is delivering this webinar live from New Zealand.

Countertransference refers to therapist reactions (thoughts, feelings, behaviours) to clients and therapy situations. Recent meta-analyses of countertransference research suggest that countertransference can be associated with poorer therapy outcomes while understanding and managing countertransference can enhance therapy outcomes. 

In this presentation, Dr Cartwright will reflect briefly on the historical development of the concept of countertransference through to current views.

She will discuss different types of countertransference (positive, negative, subjective, objective, complementary and concordant), and will introduce key aspects of her approach to reflective practice and countertransference using vignettes to illustrate her ideas. 

Also included will be a discussion on how therapists’ countertransference reactions can lead to therapeutic stumbles or missteps, and threaten the therapeutic alliance; and, on the other hand, how reactions can be valuable, provide insight into clients’ inner worlds, and enhance therapy outcomes.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those who are new to the topic.

Duration of access

Access to the recordings and presenter slides is for 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality.

Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Activity details

• On-demand webinar recording

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• monitor and recognise countertransference reactions,

• recognise different types of countertransference, and

• reflect accurately on interpersonal processes and related to countertransference reactions.

Presenter(s)

Dr Claire Cartwright

About the presenter(s)

Dr Claire Cartwright is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor who taught in the clinical psychology programme at the University of Auckland for many years. Claire has conducted and published a number of research studies related to reflective practice and countertransference, along with colleagues in Aotearoa, Australia, and the United States. She has offered a number of trainings for therapists, supervisors, and trainees in countertransference in New Zealand and Australia. Claire’s textbook, “An Introduction to Countertransference” was published by Sage Publishers in 2022.