Clinical implications of research on countertransference: science informing practice.

This article presents a clinically oriented synthesis of research findings pertaining to countertransference (CT). Findings are organized around five therapy-relevant questions concerning the origins, triggers, manifestations, management, and effects of CT. To date, research has focused primarily on impediments posed by therapists' CT reactions and mechanisms for managing them. It is argued that future research needs to be directed toward better understanding how therapists can use CT to enhance their work with clients.

The development of the inventory of countertransference behavior.

A measure was developed to assess supervisor-perceived countertransference (CT) behavior during counseling sessions. Eleven experts provided face validity for the items, indicating that each item was at least somewhat an expression of countertransference. Exploratory factor analysis of ratings of 126 supervisors of supervisee counseling sessions revealed, as expected, the existence of two factors. However, rather than reflecting the dimensions of overinvolvement and underinvolvement as hypothesized, the factors were better captured by the terms Negative Countertransference and Positive Countertransference. The total scale and each subscale demonstrated high internal consistency. In addition, both positive and negative CT were found to relate positively with an existing one-item index of countertransference behavior and negatively with an existing measure of countertransference management ability. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

Hispanic counselors' race and accent and Euro Americans' universal-diverse orientation: a study of initial perceptions.

This study examined Euro American participants' initial perceptions of male Hispanic counselors. Two hundred twelve college students evaluated male Hispanic counselors whose race was White, Mestizo (a mix of White European and Native American ancestry), or Black and who spoke English with or without a Spanish accent. The participants' perceptions were analyzed in the context of their scores on universal-diverse orientation, a new theory and measure of multicultural awareness (M. L. Miville et al., 1999). Results suggest that participants' perceptions of the Hispanic counselors as attractive, expert, and trustworthy, as well as their willingness to work with them in long-term therapy, were affected by the counselors' race and accent and by the participants' level of universal-diverse orientation. These results are discussed in the context of relevant literature, and recommendations for future research in this area are provided.

[Diabetes and celiac disease: a study related to the association of the two pathologies]. / Diabete e celiachia: studio relativo all'associazione delle due patologie.

In subjects afflicted with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, celiac disease is more diffuse than in normal people. The study has been done to a group of 93 diabetic children and teenagers who had undergone determination of antigliadine and antiendomysial antibodies. In the study the result of the celiac disease exceeds the data reported in the literature. The motivations of this result is discussed and the necessity to do immunological screening for celiac disease is requested. A possible intestinal biopsy of all diabetes in the beginning of the disease is recommended.

[A case of CHARGE with fibrocystic disease of the pancreas]. / Un caso di associazione CHARGE e fibrosi cistica del pancreas.

The Authors describe a case of CHARGE association (CA) with fibrocystic disease of the pancreas (FCP). The CA is characterized by seven mayor defects (colobomatous malformation, heart defect, atresia choanae, growth and mental deficiency, genital hypoplasia, ear anomalies and/or deafness). Four of this seven defects are necessary for the diagnosis. Other diseases and anomalies associated with CA are examined. The peculiarity of contemporaneous presence of FCP and the seriousness of the prognosis is pointed out.

Managing countertransference: what the experts think.

The present study attempted to assess the importance of five factors theorized to play a central role in managing countertransference: Self-integration, Anxiety Management, Conceptualizing Skills, Empathy, and Self-insight. 33 experts provided ratings of 50 characteristics of therapists as to the importance of each in managing countertransference. Analysis indicated that each factor is at least somewhat important to management of countertransference, with two of the factors, Self-integration and Self-insight, rated as playing a particularly important role. Clinical implications are discussed.

Effects of therapist-trainees' anxiety and empathy on countertransference behavior.

This study examined the relationship between therapist-trainees' state anxiety and countertransference behavior and the possible moderating role played by empathy. Primary hypotheses were: (a) Trainee state anxiety is related positively to countertransference behavior; and (b) the adverse effects of anxiety would influence only less empathic trainees. Thirty-five trainees (11 males, 24 females) conducted counseling sessions with each of two clients, who then rated their counselor's empathy. Countertransference behavior subsequently was assessed through trainees' responses to two audiotaped clients; state anxiety was self-reported after each audiotape "session." State anxiety was found to relate to countertransference as predicted, but only for male trainees. The hypothesized moderating effect of empathy was unsupported. The role of gender as related to anxiety and countertransference is discussed.

The effectiveness of time-limited psychotherapy in a university counseling center.

Investigated the effects of eight-session, time-limited therapy on clients' self-concepts. Fourty-two students who sought psychotherapy or personal counseling at the university counseling center were assigned randomly to either time-limited, time-unlimited, or control groups after screening with the MMPI to eliminate the most severely disturbed clients. The Bills Index of Adjustment and Values was administered pre- and post-therapy. Results of a two-way repeated measures analysis indicated significant improvement in both time-limited and unlimited groups, but not in the controls. The two treatment groups did not differ in improvement. A 2 1/2 year follow-up of 18 of the former clients suggested that treatment gains were maintained and were equivalent for those who received time-limited and open-ended therapy.