Echoes in the Playroom: Navigating Countertransference When Working With Children (ETHICS)
Explore the invisible dynamics of child therapy by identifying personal triggers and emotional echoes. This workshop provides practical tools for child therapists to manage countertransference, and deepen self-reflection
1:30 PM - 3:30 PMFri
Stratus
Ethics
Speakers
Jessica Black
LCMHC, RPT
Utah Mental Health Counselors Association
Sarah Stroup
LMFT, RPT-S
Monarch Family Counseling
Working with children is a uniquely evocative clinical experience. Unlike adult psychotherapy, work with children and adolescents often involves high levels of intensity, physical movement, and raw emotional expression that can bypass a therapist’s professional defenses. Whether it is the protective urge sparked by a vulnerable child, the frustration triggered by a defiant adolescent, or the parallel process of feeling as helpless as the client, these internal reactions are inevitable. If left unexamined, they can lead to clinical stagnation and therapist burnout; however, when understood, they become some of our most powerful diagnostic and therapeutic tools. This workshop is designed for therapists working with minors who wish to move from being reactive to being reflective. We will look beyond the textbook definitions to explore the ""echoes"" of our own histories that resonate in the clinical space. By examining self-of-the-therapist, attendees will learn to identify the subtle ways their internal world interacts with the child’s experience. Participants will explore the nuances of transference, countertransference while emphasizing practical, real-world application. We will delve into strategies for emotional regulation in the moment, the ethical risks of unchecked countertransference, and how to utilize supervision to process complex feelings. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of self-reflection techniques designed to enhance their therapeutic presence, deepen the clinical bond, and safeguard their own professional well-being. By embracing their self-of-the-therapist, clinicians can transform their emotional responses into a compass for the therapeutic journey, leading to more profound healing for the child and more sustainable practice for the therapist.