Since Sigmund Freud first defined it as the reactions that occur in mental health professionals because of a patient's persuasion on his or her unconscious feelings, countertransference (CT) has undergone great scrutiny (Schwartz, Smith and Chopko, 2007). In their article, Psychotherapists' Countertransference Reactions Toward Clients with Antisocial Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia: An Empirical Test of Theory, Schwartz, Smith and Chopko (2007) sets out to explore the "feelings, attitudes, and intrapersonal reactions in psychotherapists evoked primarily by contact with a client and his or her presenting concerns, personality characteristics, or interpersonal styles" when working with clients with Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) or Schizophrenia.
The study, the first to look at induced CT when working with clients who show symptoms of APD, concludes that therapists often feel threatened by said clients (Schwartz, Smith and Chopko, 2007). In contrast, therapists feel in control of and feelings of sympathy toward schizophrenic clients (Schwartz, Smith and Chopko, 2007). The researchers also noted a possible secondary CT reaction of helplessness to schizophrenic clients, as a result of their constant need for attention and monitoring (Schwartz, Smith and Chopko, 2007).
In the article, the authors assume, albeit because of "empirical evidence," that psychotherapists will at some time in their careers encounter CT reactions to patients (Schwartz, Smith and Chopko, 2007). By accepting this argument, it is imperative that therapists acquaint themselves with CT in general. Rejecting the assumptions, however, leaves therapists in a precarious position should they encounter CT like reactions to clients and not know how to respond to them. While the authors' methodology and discussion seem believable and credible, there remains the possibility that their steadfast belief in CT reactions skews their perspective on...