| Erotic transference and countertransference in the therapeutic relationship has been explored more extensively for the male therapist/female client dyad than for the female therapist/male client dyad. Recent studies about female therapists do provide a broader perspective about sexual feelings in therapy, however, little attention has been given to how inexperienced female therapists understand and utilize erotic transference and countertransference.;This qualitative study explores how inexperienced female clinicians understand and utilize erotic transference and countertransference with male clients. Grounded theory was used to analyze interview data from five female therapists in training. These participants were between the ages of 25 and 35, heterosexual, psychodynamically oriented, and had five or fewer years of clinical experience. During the interview, the participants presented a male client they perceived as having an erotic transference in treatment. The interview focused on the following four issues: (a) their emotional, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to erotic transference and countertransference; (b) supervision on erotic transference and countertransference; (c) their ability to utilize countertransference as a clinical tool in treatment in order to understand client dynamics; and (d) issues that impeded their utilization of erotic transference and countertransference.;In this study, the participants reported feeling more comfortable and better able to tolerate erotic countertransference as opposed to erotic transference. Aggression in the erotic transference was particularly difficult for them. The participants' understanding of erotic transference and countertransference did little to lower their anxiety or discomfort about these phenomena. Even though they felt anxious and uncomfortable about working with erotic transference, the participants were able to conceptualize and utilize the erotic transference and erotic countertransference from a psychodynamic framework. Personal history and life experiences played a significant role in how the participants perceived and reacted to erotic transference. Supervision, case conferences, and discussing erotic transference with colleagues were helpful to the participants to some extent. However, the therapists reported that training and supervision did not sufficiently address how to deal with erotic transference and countertransference issues outside of legal and ethical responsibilities. The results were discussed in terms of clinical and training implications. |
