countertransference

noun/ˌkaʊntərˈtrænsfərəns/

Frequency rank: #19,939 most common English word

Meaning

The therapist's own unconscious emotional reactions toward a client, triggered by the client's words or behavior.

Illustration for the English word “countertransference”

Example sentence

The therapist sought supervision after noticing that countertransference was affecting her ability to remain neutral with a particular client.

Synonyms & related words

Practice this word in the quiz

More words in ranks 19,901–20,000