Avoiding Countertransference and Codependency When Working with Other Healthcare Professionals
Stephanie Trumm, BA, RN, CARN
Objectives 1. To gain a greater understanding of the various aspects of countertransference and to identify their impact on a therapeutic relationship 2. To gain a greater understanding of how to manage countertranference when it does manifest, and how to prevent countertransference from sabotaging a therapeutic relationship 3. To gain insight into codependency and to learn ways to identify and to also prevent codependency from sabotaging a therapeutic relationship What Does Countertransference Mean To You? Definition Dilemma No consensus of definition Term frequently used to denigrate nurses regarding their reactions to patients (Ens, 1998) Countertransference originated out of Freud’s psychodynamic theory in 1910 (Freud, 1959) Term used in reference to the unresolved conflicts within the clinician-later viewed as a weakness in the psychoanalyst in response to the patient’s transference (Stem, 1924)
Function of the Hippocampus The “Memory Bank”- records every event and mental process in tandem with the emotion experienced
Family of Origin Issues Transference- “A set of expectations, beliefs, and emotional responses that a patient brings to the clinician-patient relationship; these do not come from the development of new feelings but rather the return to old feelings patients had toward someone in their family of origin”. (Pearson, 2001, p. 8) Feelings lie in the unconscious- often reflect experiences that the patient had with early authority figures- can result in a distorted perception of the clinician (either very good or very bad) Countertransference
Refers to sometimes disruptive feelings that the clinician brings to the clinician-patient relationship, again unconscious in origin, that are formed by the clinician’s early developmental experience Definition Realm Dilemma Countertransference can either be positive or negative Negative countertransference-often presents in punitive actions or attitudes toward the participant, which results in detriment to the interpersonal relationship and to the team’s clinical functioning (Sebree & Popkess-Vawter, 1991) Positive Countertransference-can have equally detrimental effects-often manifests in oversolicitous care and Participant overinvolvement (Holden, 1990) One More Dilemma-Empathy The Exception; Empathy is a part of countertransference that is therapeutic-a feeling elicited from the patient’s feelings or circumstances Term coined by Racker (1957) and defined as identification concordance with the patient Is usually in conscious realm-countertransference usually isn’t Has temporal “here-and-now” dimensions Requires freedom from judgment Surrogate Terms to Assist Understanding- Rodger’s Concept of Countertransference Mutual Withdrawal (Tudor, 1952) aka “benign neglect” (Stamm, 1985) and “countertransference traps” (Climo, 1983) “Countertransference Acting Out” (Bellis, 1988) “Overprotectiveness” “Overinvolvement”- “Omnipotent Rescuer” “Sympathy”
Related Concepts-Not Usually Countertransference “Identification”-similarities “Reaction”- nearly universal conscious behavioral responses “Therapeutic Reciprocity”
Attributes of Countertransference 1. Occurs in context of some relationship that has therapeutic intent and is interactive 2.The past enters the her-and-now aspects of the relationship (Schroder, 1985) 3.Resides in the psychopathology of the patient, but the strength of the response is mitigated by the manner in which the clinician’s past needs and conflicts influence his or her reactions (Venn & Derdeyn, 1988) 4.Originates in the unconscious, but seeps into awareness (Savage,1961) Countertransference Happens
5. It is a given in therapeutic interactions, and as such, is essentially neutral, potentially good or bad, valuable or harmful (Little, 1960)
Therefore, Pay Attention to the intense feelings and reactions that occur within you! Consequences that can follow negative countertransference Often manifests in attitudes and behaviors: Misuse of confrontation Continual arguing with a participant Labeling the participant as “manipulative”, “always lying” Providing an inappropriate interpretation of a participant’s behavior Experiencing an unreasonable dislike for or resentment and anger toward a participant Making derisive comments about the participant to others
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Labels Belong on Cans, Not on People
Scheike’s Model of STEDFAST Self-Aware Mindfulness Development Model (2004) Self-Awareness and Mindfulness- my first line of defense Take time to learn and to study myself Learn my personal mission Active awareness involves nonjudgmental acceptance of myself, my investment in this present moment, and my ability to experience life in a fresh way helps me to monitor my professional boundaries Results in an increased capacity, using a balanced approach S-T-E-D S-Self-Assess Check in with yourself before you start your shift T-Therapeutic Role Are you ready/willing to take on your role at work today? E-Empathy Are you willing to “put yourself in your participant’s shoes”? D-Detached Reflection Are you willing to own and to deal with intense/ disproportionate feelings elicited within you? F-A-S-T F-Facilitated debriefing Are you willing to reach out and process with a trusted colleague or non-administrative supervisor? A-Alert Empathy Can you balance an alert, attentive, empathetic relationship with you participant and keep vigilant to your need to honor own self- boundary? S-Self-Aware Mindfulness Have I learned anything new? Able to more quickly accept myself and identify/manage intense feelings? T-Therapeutic Use of Self Able to identify how you bring your “mindful self” to the relationship with your participant and be able to facilitate some of the participant’s needs? The Codependency Dilemma What does “Codependency” mean to you?
Definition Dilemma “A psychological condition manifested through a dysfunctional pattern of relating to others, characterized by extreme focus outside of self, a lack of open expression of feelings, and attempts to derive a sense of purpose through relationships”. (Fischer, Spann, & Crawford, 1991, p. 87) A dysfunctional pattern of living, which emerges from repeated exposure to stressful conditions, resulting in an overreaction to external cues and an underreaction to internal cues (Friel & Friel, 1987) A spectrum-disorder rather than a diagnosed disease
Aspects of Codependency Difficulty with emotional individuation boundaries (Uhle, 1994) Thought to originate when a loss or alienation of one’s authentic self occurs through a wounding experience in early childhood (Whitfield, 1997) or in the early attachment period; emotional neglect present Often low sense of personal worth, painful relationships with others, internalized shame, exaggerated sense of responsibility for others, rescue orientation, intense need for approval, and sustained difficulty with identifying and expressing one’s own feelings
Cermak’s Model (1991) Most critical feature is the ongoing investment of self- esteem in the ability to influence or control feelings and behavior, directed toward both oneself and others, in the midst of negative circumstances May be primary, embedded deeply into a person’s character structure, or secondary, which is often more transient, in response to a present relationship with an individual who has a SUD, mental illness, or other dysfunctional family relationship patterns Difference Between Caring and Codependent Caretaking Caring involves empowering participants to be responsible for themselves, as clinicians take responsibility for themselves, in order to be understanding. involved, supportive, and proficient (Herrick, 1992) Caretaking involves being “absorbed in another’s problems at the expense of taking care of oneself” (Herrick, p. 12)and as neglecting oneself “due to the exaggerated sense of commitment to helping others” (Farnsworth & Thomas, 1993, p. 180) Avoiding Codependency with Participants-Suggestions Identify and manage your own codependent issues- trauma distorts Suggestions
Self-Awareness and Mindfulness S-T-E-D-F-A-S-T Pay attention to degree of self-disclosure and your role Key in on boundary awareness-especially if the participant is in crisis or has just relapsed Talk about healthy boundary maintenance on your team or with a trusted colleague- no caring case manager is immune from codependency issues Practice self-care-hold yourself accountable to a trusted friend Seek help if needed-You are worth it! Suggestions If your program is 12-step oriented, listen, validate, then gently refer your participants exhibiting their own codependent issues/ anxieties to steps 1 and 3, as well as to their sponsors and/or therapist to continue to process feelings Debrief with a trusted colleague or supervisor if a traumatic event has occurred to or with your participant Final Thoughts You Are Worth Succeeding Also! References
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