Countertransference reactions to lesbian clients: The role of homophobia, counselor gender, and countertransference management.

Abstract

This study examined (a) male and female counselors' countertransference (CT) reactions to lesbian and heterosexual client actresses and (b) the role of counselor homophobia and CT management ability in CT reactions. Sixty-seven counselors viewed a videotaped client actress in 1 of 2 conditions: lesbian or heterosexual. The client discussed sexual problems within a stable relationship. Counselors responded to the taped client at 8 points. CT, the dependent variable, was assessed at behavioral, affective, and cognitive levels. Contrary to prediction, counselors did not exhibit more CT with a lesbian client. As hypothesized, (a) counselor homophobia correlated with counselor avoidance behavior in the lesbian condition and (b) female counselors had greater recall problems than male counselors with the lesbian client, whereas male and female counselors had equivalent recall with the heterosexual client. CT management ability was uncorrelated with CT reactions in all but a few instances.

Therapist perspectives on countertransference: Qualitative data in search of a theory.

“…For example, some therapists may react to their anxiety by withdrawing from the client (cf. , whereas others may respond by increasing their involvement with the client (see Gelso et al, 1995). Thus, countertransference apparently contributes to the constant dance that occurs between client and therapist of drawing nearer or moving apart, of "joining and disjoining" (Perls, 1947, p. 22), of "merging with and separating from" one another (Gorkin, 1987, p. 80).…”

“…The clinical and empirical literature indicate that countertransference reactions can assume myriad forms, both internal and external. Internally, countertransference often manifests itself in three forms: anxiety (Cohen, 1952;Gelso et al, 1995;Sharkin & Gelso, 1993;Sullivan, 1954;Yulis & Kiesler, 1968), misperceptions of the frequency with which the client discussed certain topics (Cutler, 1958;Gelso et al, 1995;Hayes & Gelso, 1993;Singer, Sincoff, & Kolligan, 1989), and feelings of liking or antipathy for the client (Fiedler, 1951;McClure & Hodge, 1987). Behaviorally, countertransference may be displayed by withdrawing from or otherwise avoiding the client (Bandura, Lipsher, & Miller, 1960;Yulis & Kiesler, 1968), becoming overinvolved with the client , or exhibiting nonverbal behaviors that may be peripheral cues of countertransference (Sherman, 1965).…”

“…Present understanding of countertransference is based primarily on clinical writings (e.g., Atwood & Stolorow, 1993;Epstein & Feiner, 1979;Mitchell, 1988) and analogue research (e.g., Gelso, Fassinger, Gomez, & Latts, 1995;Peabody & Gelso, 1982;Robbins & Jolkovski, 1987;Yulis & Kiesler, 1968). Analogue research on countertransference has followed the general paradigm of testing hypotheses under laboratory conditions that approximate therapy.…”

Clinical Issues in Working With Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients.

“…Such gaps in knowledge leave us with no alternative but to draw from the societal and personal biases that we possess. Gelso, Fassinger, Gomez, and Latts (1995) and Hayes and Gelso (1993) examined therapists' reactions to lesbian, gay, and heterosexual clients in analogue studies and found that therapists' homophobia was positively correlated with their avoidance of gay-and lesbian-related material concerning relationship issues or sexual difficulties. However, it should be noted that as a group, counselors did not exhibit greater avoidance or anxiety with lesbian or gay clients than they did with heterosexual clients.…”

The impact of client sexual orientation and gender on clinical judgments and diagnosis of borderline personality disorder

“…In one survey of psychologists, 12.9% of participants reported that they considered the homosexual lifestyle to be a psychosexual disorder, and 5% described it as a personality disorder (Jordan & Deluty, 1995). Such negative views of homosexuality are likely to interfere with the therapeutic relationship: Analogue studies have found that even among therapists who reported low levels of homophobia, negative views of homosexuality were correlated with verbal avoidance behaviors that inhibited or discouraged gay and lesbian clients from exploring or expressing a theme during the therapy session (Gelso, Fassinger, Gomez, & Latts, 1995;Hayes & Gelso, 1993). Gelso and colleagues also found that heterosexual therapists were least comfortable with homosexual clients of their same sex.…”