Body-Centred Counter- Transference in a Sample of Irish Clinical Psychologists

Abstract

Recent psychotherapy research has investigated the physical reactions of therapists to their clients and the potential utility of these reactions in therapeutic settings. These bodily reactions can range from nausea and genital pain to headaches . They are collectively known as body-centred counter-transference. The current exploratory study used the Egan and Carr (2005) body-centred counter-transference scale to assess the frequency of body-centred counter-transference in a sample of Irish clinical Psychologists (N = 87). The study looked at the relationship between body-centred counter-transference and a variety of other variables (age, number of children, years ’ post-qualification experience, sick leave, marital status, client session hours per week, clinical supervision, primary client group and therapeutic orientation). The study found no relationship between body-centred counter-transference and any of these variables (p > .05). However, it may be the individual manner in which a therapist engages with and manages the counter-transference manifestation that will determine the effects on the therapist and the therapy.