Do Ya Think I'm Sexy: Sexual Transference and Countertransference in the Counseling Environment

In our work with clients, we can encounter transference dynamics when a client is attracted to or acts seductively toward the therapist. Additionally, many therapists and counselors will confront or have confronted their own sexual attraction to a client. Anyone who develops therapeutic relationships with clients is vulnerable to such feelings, which arise from normal human emotions and countertransference. If not properly addressed, these feelings and issues can have grave consequences, up to and including loss of licensure, arrest, and imprisonment. Most professional training programs do not adequately prepare people to cope with these issues.

This web conference will help participants to increase their awareness of the dangers of dual relationships, ignoring personal feelings, and failing to confront inappropriate client behavior. Therapeutic and anti-therapeutic seduction, how and why clients seduce, and therapeutic power dynamics will be discussed to aid participants in setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries in the therapeutic environment. Research-based evidence will be provided during the web conference.

This web conference is intermediate instructional level and designed to help clinicians:

1. Define sexual transference and countertransference;
2. Recognize the dangers of not addressing, with a supervisor or therapist, personal feelings triggered by clients;
3. Discuss how a client might try to seduce the therapist;
4. Define therapeutic seduction.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference, or would like more information, please contact us here.

Event Reviews from Members

"I found the frank discussion of the commonalities of transference and countertransference was the most important piece of this workshop. I appreciated the honesty that the presenter conveyed when she discussed the often-taboo topic of transference and countertransference, especially with regard to sexual attraction. I think that opening up more frank discussions of these phenomena will encourage therapists to keep it in the back of their minds at all times and emphasize strong and clear boundaries with clients so this becomes a thing of the past." - Kristen Martinez, MEd, EdS, LMHCA, NCC

Continuing Education (CE) Information

Two CE credits will be provided by GoodTherapy.org for attending this web conference in its entirety.

GoodTherapy.org is also an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within counseling services.

GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. GoodTherapy.org solely is responsible for all aspects of the program.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium or Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no cost. Not yet a Premium or Pro Member? Mental health professionals can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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