Countertransference processes in psychodynamic therapy with dependent (anaclitic) depressed patients : a qualitative study using supervision data
- Author
- Vicky Hennissen (UGent) , Reitske Meganck (UGent) , Kimberly Van Nieuwenhove (UGent) , Juri Krivzov, Dries Dulsster (UGent) and Mattias Desmet (UGent)
- Organization
- Abstract
- Although Blatt’s two-polarity model of depression has suggested that patients’ interpersonal styles may shape countertransference phenomena in psychotherapy, empirical research on this topic has remained scarce. This article provides an in-depth study of countertransference processes in clinical work with dependent (anaclitic) depressed patients using a qualitative methodology. Thematic analysis of narrative material of psychodynamic therapists discussing patient cases during supervision (n = 7) resulted in four recurrent themes: “empathy, compassion, and support,” “anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and protection,” “frustration, irritation, and confrontation,” and “inadequacy, incompetence, and fatalism.” We found that these countertransference processes mainly revolved around perceived adaptive and maladaptive aspects of patients’ relational functioning. Regarding clinical practice, our study suggests that therapists can use countertransference to determine in which position they are maneuvered by patients, although we caution against the exclusive use of subjectively informed data as a benchmark in the diagnostic and treatment process. We conclude that further in-depth research on countertransference and personality styles is needed to identify pitfalls in the treatment of depression.
- Keywords
- countertransference, depression, blatt, anaclitic, supervision, thematic analysis
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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8631741
- MLA
- Hennissen, Vicky, et al. “Countertransference Processes in Psychodynamic Therapy with Dependent (Anaclitic) Depressed Patients : A Qualitative Study Using Supervision Data.” PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHIATRY, vol. 48, no. 2, 2020, pp. 163–93, doi:10.1521/PDPS.2020.48.2.163.
- APA
- Hennissen, V., Meganck, R., Van Nieuwenhove, K., Krivzov, J., Dulsster, D., & Desmet, M. (2020). Countertransference processes in psychodynamic therapy with dependent (anaclitic) depressed patients : a qualitative study using supervision data. PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHIATRY, 48(2), 163–193. https://doi.org/10.1521/PDPS.2020.48.2.163
- Chicago author-date
- Hennissen, Vicky, Reitske Meganck, Kimberly Van Nieuwenhove, Juri Krivzov, Dries Dulsster, and Mattias Desmet. 2020. “Countertransference Processes in Psychodynamic Therapy with Dependent (Anaclitic) Depressed Patients : A Qualitative Study Using Supervision Data.” PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHIATRY 48 (2): 163–93. https://doi.org/10.1521/PDPS.2020.48.2.163.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Hennissen, Vicky, Reitske Meganck, Kimberly Van Nieuwenhove, Juri Krivzov, Dries Dulsster, and Mattias Desmet. 2020. “Countertransference Processes in Psychodynamic Therapy with Dependent (Anaclitic) Depressed Patients : A Qualitative Study Using Supervision Data.” PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHIATRY 48 (2): 163–193. doi:10.1521/PDPS.2020.48.2.163.
- Vancouver
- 1.Hennissen V, Meganck R, Van Nieuwenhove K, Krivzov J, Dulsster D, Desmet M. Countertransference processes in psychodynamic therapy with dependent (anaclitic) depressed patients : a qualitative study using supervision data. PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHIATRY. 2020;48(2):163–93.
- IEEE
- [1]V. Hennissen, R. Meganck, K. Van Nieuwenhove, J. Krivzov, D. Dulsster, and M. Desmet, “Countertransference processes in psychodynamic therapy with dependent (anaclitic) depressed patients : a qualitative study using supervision data,” PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHIATRY, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 163–193, 2020.
@article{8631741,
abstract = {{Although Blatt’s two-polarity model of depression has suggested that patients’ interpersonal styles may shape countertransference phenomena in psychotherapy, empirical research on this topic has remained scarce. This article provides an in-depth study of countertransference processes in clinical work with dependent (anaclitic) depressed patients using a qualitative methodology. Thematic analysis of narrative material of psychodynamic therapists discussing patient cases during supervision (n = 7) resulted in four recurrent themes: “empathy, compassion, and support,” “anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, and protection,” “frustration, irritation, and confrontation,” and “inadequacy, incompetence, and fatalism.” We found that these countertransference processes mainly revolved around perceived adaptive and maladaptive aspects of patients’ relational functioning. Regarding clinical practice, our study suggests that therapists can use countertransference to determine in which position they are maneuvered by patients, although we caution against the exclusive use of subjectively informed data as a benchmark in the diagnostic and treatment process. We conclude that further in-depth research on countertransference and personality styles is needed to identify pitfalls in the treatment of depression.}},
author = {{Hennissen, Vicky and Meganck, Reitske and Van Nieuwenhove, Kimberly and Krivzov, Juri and Dulsster, Dries and Desmet, Mattias}},
issn = {{2162-2590}},
journal = {{PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHIATRY}},
keywords = {{countertransference,depression,blatt,anaclitic,supervision,thematic analysis}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{163--193}},
title = {{Countertransference processes in psychodynamic therapy with dependent (anaclitic) depressed patients : a qualitative study using supervision data}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1521/PDPS.2020.48.2.163}},
volume = {{48}},
year = {{2020}},
}
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