Experience of Managing Countertransference Through Self-Guided Imagery in Meditation Among Healthcare Professionals

Abstract

Introduction: As a part of the therapeutic relationship, a significant, well-established predictor of outcomes in psychiatric healthcare, healthcare professionals’ emotional reactions to patients may affect treatment outcomes. Aim: The aim of our study was to explore and describe healthcare professionals’ experiences with managing countertransference using skills from a training program on self-guided imagery in meditation (SIM). Method: Following an exploratory descriptive design, we conducted qualitative interviews with 10 healthcare professionals who care for patients with mental illness and subjected the collected data to thematic content analysis. Results: Participants reported that SIM had helped them to manage countertransferenceand had prompted changes that we categorizedinto three themes: managing personal vulnerability, setting clearer boundaries, and practicing self-care. Conclusion: The results suggest that by cultivating wellbeing and dealing with unresolved inner conflicts, SIM can help healthcare professionals to manage countertransference.