District Meeting |THE ART OF PSYCHOTHERAPY Workshop 3 - Obstacles and Opportunities in the Therapeutic Relationship- Working with Culture, Defenses, and Transference & Countertransference

The Social Work perspective of ‘person in situation’ will be used in to further understand the therapeutic relationship. Today we will discuss the issues of ego defenses and transference/countertransference in the context of current culture including race, ethnicity, and our present economic and social situation. Person in situation is the social work focus on the intrapsychic issues of the client but also the social environment. We know that the environment influences the person and the person influences the environment. In the process of the therapeutic rapport the therapist will do an assessment of client issues and needs. Before meeting with a client these theoretical concepts are useful to understand. Theoretical Concepts Outline Person in situation configuration Diversity, social justice, and cultural competence Defenses as obstacles and/or opportunities eg. difficulty in asking for and receiving help Transference and Countertransference and its opportunities