Affective Constellations for Countertransference Awareness Following a Client's Suicide Attempt |
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| Authors: | Jenny L. Cureton Elysia V. Clemens |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Applied Psychology and Counselor EducationUniversity of Northern Colorado. |
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| Abstract: | Effective counseling with suicidal clients requires the development and maintenance of a strong therapeutic alliance. However, unmanaged countertransference (CT) can inhibit the alliance. This article provides strategies for enhancing CT awareness in counselors to support alliance building with clients after a client suicide attempt. The authors define CT in the context of suicide, introduce affective constellations as a method for CT awareness, and apply the method to a case vignette. A figure for self‐reflection and supervision is provided. |
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| Keywords: | suicide counseling countertransference interpersonal affective constellations |
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