International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy

Received: 12.02.2026; Accepted: 10.03.2026; Published: 09.05.2026

There is a common understanding that countertransference is an impediment in psychotherapy. This article explores the beneficial aspects of countertransference and the significance on attending to countertransference in psychotherapy supervision. A distinction is made between Reactive Countertransference which is not therapeutic and a Responsive Countertransference which is therapeutic. Two psychotherapy examples are provided that describe the author’s therapeutic use of countertransference.

countertransference, responsive countertransference, reactive countertransference, integrative psychotherapy, client-therapist relationship, supervision

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