Clinical utility of countertransference identification

When correctly identified and managed, countertransference could represent an opportunity rather than a hindrance in the psychotherapeutic process because it can help to understand the clinical encounter with that specific patient. Countertransference, therefore, can become a useful tool for guiding and tailoring the therapeutic relationship to the specificities of patient's functioning and to the aims of the ongoing relationship. This panel will present three studies that investigated different aspects of countertransference identification that can improve daily clinical practice. In particular, Abargil and Tishby will propose a new protocol, based on the previous literature, for identifying prototypical countertransference reactions and will give some evidence about the relationship between countertransference, alliance and outcome; Tanzilli, Gualco and Lingiardi will present a study on the predominant countertransference patterns in the psychotherapy with adolescents presenting three subtypes of narcissistic personality disorder and their relationship with therapeutic alliance; Rocco, De Bei, Negri and Filipponi’s presentation will highlight the necessity to use different sources and perspectives to identify the conscious and non-couscous parts of countertransference and their different impact on session outcome.