Transferences, Countertransferences, and the Multidimensional Development of the Social Worker

The social worker's multidimensional development of self is critical to professional effectiveness. Self-development is particularly important in preparing a social worker to deal effectively with transference and countertransference issues. The developing social worker tends to be better prepared to tune in to the client's transference reactions and the client's underlying needs. The developing social worker also tends to be better prepared to tune in to countertransference reactions, to intervene effectively, and to model growth for the client. In this section, transference and countertransference are further defined and described from the perspective of each of the four forces (or major paradigms) of psychology.