Countertransference is best described as what?

• A. Countertransference
• B. Transference
• C. Empathy
• D. Unconditional positive regard

Answer: (A)

Countertransference is the therapist’s own emotional reactions to a client, often rooted in the therapist’s past experiences or unresolved issues, that are triggered by something the client brings into therapy. These reactions come from the therapist’s inner world rather than from the client alone, and they can show up as feelings like frustration, attraction, anxiety, or overprotectiveness.

Why this fits best: the term specifically names the clinician’s internal responses that can influence how a session unfolds, for better or worse, depending on the therapist’s self-awareness and boundaries. It’s distinct from the client’s experiences with the therapist.

Empathy describes the therapist’s ability to understand and share the client’s feelings, not the therapist’s own reactions. Unconditional positive regard is a stance of nonjudgmental acceptance toward the client. Transference refers to the client projecting feelings from other relationships onto the therapist, whereas countertransference is about the therapist’s reactions to the client.