Clinical Dilemmas and Countertransference Reactions for Therapists of Pre-Operative Transexual Clients

Author

Rachel Lynne Wichman, Smith College

Publication Date

1985

First Advisor

Judith Einzig

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School for Social Work

Abstract

An exploratory study was undertaken to examine the clinical dilemmas that are inherent to working with a pre operative transsexual population, and associated countertransference reactions. Interviews were conducted with twelve therapists who had treated pre-operative transsexual clients. The interviews revealed that three clinical dilemmas were significantly referred to by the subjects as they described their countertransference reactions—diagnostic considerations, the therapists' clinical role in treatment of transsexual clients, and therapists' traditional sex role conditioning. The findings indicated that countertransference reactions for therapists working with pre-operative transsexual clients were an outgrowth of the clinical dilemmas found in treating this client population.

Rights

©1985 Rachel L. Wichman.

Language

English

Comments

iii, 75 pages. Includes bibliographical references (pages 61–67)

Recommended Citation

Wichman, Rachel Lynne, "Clinical Dilemmas and Countertransference Reactions for Therapists of Pre-Operative Transexual Clients" (1985). Masters Thesis, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/2417