What is a recommended strategy for managing countertransference?

The recommended strategy for managing countertransference is to seek consultation and keep a journal. This approach allows a clinician to reflect on their feelings and reactions towards clients in a structured way. By keeping a journal, a therapist can note when and why certain feelings arise, helping them to understand the underlying causes and patterns of their emotional responses.

Seeking consultation with colleagues or supervisors can provide valuable external perspectives and support, allowing the therapist to explore these feelings in a safe environment. This collaborative approach can lead to enhanced self-awareness and better client care. It helps ensure that any emotional responses do not negatively influence the therapeutic relationship or clinical judgment, thus maintaining the professionalism required in therapy.

The other options may seem like potential ways to handle countertransference but do not provide the same level of awareness and professional development. Ignoring personal feelings can lead to unresolved issues that may affect therapy, while discussing feelings openly with the client can breach professional boundaries and may not be therapeutic for them. Terminating the relationship with the client is an extreme reaction that does not address the underlying countertransference issues and could be detrimental both to the client and the therapeutic process.