Countertransference behavior and management with survivors of sexual assault.

Examined the impact of therapist gender on countertransference behavior toward rape survivors and tested a 2-step model of countertransference management. The model recommends awareness of countertransference feelings (ACF) followed by employment of theoretical framework to understand these feelings. 47 counseling and clinical psychology graduate students (aged 20–44 yrs) completed measures of ACF and of theoretical framework. 1 wk later, countertransferential "approach" and "avoidance" behaviors were assessed as Ss responded to videotapes of an actress portraying a client survivor of date rape. Based on hierarchical regression analysis, an interaction effect was identified between ACF and theoretical framework. A combination of high ACF and high theoretical framework yielded the least avoidance behavior. As hypothesized, male therapists provided significantly more avoidance responses to the rape survivor than did female therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)