DISENTANGLING THE THERAPIST'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP: ATTACHMENT STYLE, COUNTERTRANSFERENCE, AND THE REAL RELATIONSHIP.

The current study investigated the relations among therapists' attachment, therapists' countertransference behaviors, and the real relationship therapists established with a client, as perceived by the therapists and their supervisors. Data were gathered from 32 therapist-supervisor dyads. Therapists completed measures of attachment and of the real relationship. Supervisors completed measures on therapist's countertransference behaviors and the real relationship. Real relationship and countertransference measures were completed based on the work of the therapist with an identified client. Results showed that therapists' attachment security was positively and significantly related to therapists' ratings of the real relationship, but not to supervisors' ratings. Negative countertransference was related to supervisors' ratings of strength of the real relationship, but not to counselors' ratings. Contrary to expectations, positive countertransference was not related to supervisors' ratings of the real relationship. Finally, attachment security was not related to countertransference behaviors