Factors that Influence the Therapeutic Relationship with Clients Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
Factors that Influence the Therapeutic Relationship with Clients Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
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Issue Date
2021-12-22
Authors
Bienko, Izabela
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
This paper investigates factors which influence the therapeutic relationship with clients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The research is clear that therapists will inevitably be confronted with their clients' transference (Tr) and their own countertransference (CTr) within the therapeutic relationship. Tr and CTr are well established phenomena in the literature in relation to psychotherapeutic process and outcomes for clients. What is not as well known, however, is what factors influence the Tr and CTr of the therapeutic relationship with clients diagnosed with BPD. This research study identified therapist, client and treatment factors. Therapist factors include heightened CTr and Self-reflection. Client factors include severity of BPD symptoms, level of motivation and engagement, and personality dissimilarity with the therapist. Treatment factors include level of training with BPD and length of treatment. Clinical applications comprise of CTr management, a higher level of experience BPD, as well as supervision and consultation. Ethical considerations of working with vulnerable clients, and future research recommendations for therapists are also discussed. This study contributes an increased awareness and understanding of the factors which influence the Tr and CTr of the therapeutic relationship with clients diagnosed with BPD.
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Keywords
transference , countertransference , therapeutic relationship , therapeutic alliance , personality disorder , borderline personality disorder , psychodynamic theory , relational psychodynamics
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess