Developing empathy: a case study exploring transference and countertransference with adolescent females who self-injure

摘要

Self-injury among female adolescents has become an important clinical issue in social work practice. Anxiety has been cited as one of the primary reasons that self-injury occurs in this population. This paper explores the role of empathy in mitigating anxiety and helping with emotional regulation and highlights the need to empathically monitor the self-systems of female clients who self-injure. This paper considers issues of gender and family structure within this population and explores transference and countertransference as important processes that can help to develop empathy in the therapeutic relationship. A case study is presented to highlight these important processes. Implications for social work practice are discussed.View full textDownload full textKeywordsself-injury, anxiety, adolescent females, empathy, transference, countertransferenceRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02650530903525991