Art Exploration of Countertransference and Empathy Towards Clients with Substance Abuse

• Main Author: Tran, Mailynn
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons at Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School 2019
• Subjects: art therapy; countertransference; empathy; heuristic; pity; reflection; substance abuse; Art Therapy; Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mental and Social Health
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/770; https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1767&context=etd

This research incorporates a heuristic method of inquiry to reflect on the researcher’s response to clients with substance abuse. The research investigates if countertransference with this population comes off as empathy (taking in the perspective of the clients) or pity (feeling sorry for clients). Data was collected over a structured 6-week period through the researcher’s self-reflective process of creating art in responses to client artwork made during her practicum experience. Research is solely based on the researcher’s personal response to a select few clients and the resulting artwork and reflective writing. Four themes were initially extrapolated from immediate reflections, which were combined to form a more central understanding of the researcher’s countertransference. Through this process of investigation, the researcher addresses and challenged personal biases, stereotypes, and assumptions about this population to better understand the meaning of her countertransference.