Citation

Cureton JL, Clemens EV. J. Couns. Dev. 2015; 93(3): 352-360.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, John Wiley & Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jcad.12033

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Effective counseling with suicidal clients requires the development and maintenance of a strong therapeutic alliance. However, unmanaged countertransference (CT) can inhibit the alliance. This article provides strategies for enhancing CT awareness in counselors to support alliance building with clients after a client suicide attempt. The authors define CT in the context of suicide, introduce affective constellations as a method for CT awareness, and apply the method to a case vignette. A figure for self-reflection and supervision is provided. © 2015 by the American Counseling Association. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

counseling; suicide; affective constellations; countertransference; interpersonal