A Healing Space for Mental Health Professionals

I live in the realm of the wounded healer. Patients' affects invariably invade my very being, and I have no other choice but to accept a lifetime of countertransference processing. Society's negative attitudes directed at psychoanalysis affect my very effectiveness, and I struggle with feelings of alienation and aloneness. Distresses of modern living along with the pulls of family compete with my professional responsibilities and commitments. These pressures demand healing if I am to survive as a mental health professional.

This paper attempts to synthesize the ongoing pressures of growing and surviving as a depth-oriented therapist. A fabric of interwoven threads now supports and holds my professional being. A central core of healing in my supervisory group has become the work with countertransference process. Within the group, the recognition of the ongoing struggles of living are shared. Gradually, over time, the group evolves into a community, as the members ultimately develop a commitment to one another that goes beyond the original task of countertransference processing.

A number of assumptions are presented here:

1. Countertransference processing becomes the heart of lifelong learning as a therapist.

2. A group offers support and mirroring that promotes holding, acceptance, and healing.

3. One cannot separate personal and professional identity from the society we live in. We aspire to be neutral and not intrusive, and yet we cannot deny that cultural values impact our work with patients.

   Page 17

4. Within the group, space needs to be made for individual differences as well as connections.

5. The leader who walks upon this course of action should be skilled in both countertransference processing and group dynamics. The particular development of the group will depend on the leader's temperament and theoretical orientation.

6. The experience of community provides a form of healing as well as support.