Abstract:
The transference/countertransference dynamics between the therapist and the client are complex. The unique experiences lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or nonbinary, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+) clients have surrounding gender and sexuality can add additional layers of complexity to therapeutic dynamics. This is true regardless of whether their therapist is LGBTQIA+ or endocishet (someone who is endosex, cisgender, and heterosexual). Many therapists will classify both transference and countertransference as “positive” (i.e. respect, admiration, etc.) or “negative” (hostility, aggression, hatred, etc.) to reflect whether the feelings are comfortable or wanted. However, this viewpoint is far too limiting as it splits the transference/countertransference dynamics into “good” or “bad” rather than addressing the natural and potentially useful complexity that they can bring to the therapeutic relationship. Erotic transference is often put into the “negative” category as many therapists are uncomfortable with addressing it with clients. Both “positive” and “negative” transference/countertransference, as well as erotic transference, have potential to either deepen the treatment or destroy it.
This course will explore common transference/countertransference themes that occur with LGBTQIA+ clients. We will examine both LGBTQIA+/LGBTQIA+ dyads and endocishet/LGBTQIA+ dyads and how transference/countertransference dynamics can impact treatment with special emphasis on identifying objective and subjective countertransference. Participants will learn how power, privilege, and oppression can show up within the relationship between therapist and client , including whether the homophobia, biphobia, or transphobia present within the dynamics are from the therapist, the patient, or both. In addition, we will explore how self-disclosure of the therapist’s identity can impact treatment.
Note: This workshop will not be recorded due to the intimate nature of the discussion.
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe how erotic transference with an LGBTQIA+ client can be a reenactment of homophobia/biphobia from parental rejection
- Describe 2 common transference reactions that LGBTQIA+ clients can have with endcishet therapists
- Describe 2 common transference reactions that LGBTQIA+ clients can have with LGBTQIA+ therapists
- Describe 2 common countertransference reactions therapists can have with LGBTQIA+ clients
About the Presenter
Cadyn Cathers, PsyD (he/him/his) has been teaching courses on human sexuality, psychotherapy with LGBTQIA+ communities, and psychodynamic theory for over 10 years, and serves as teaching faculty at Antioch University Los Angeles in the LGBT Specialization. He is the founder and CEO of The Affirmative Couch, which provides online continuing education on clinical work with LGBTQIA+, CNM, and kink communities. He is a licensed psychologist in private practice at the Out Couch Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, P.C., where he focuses on psychoanalytic psychotherapy with transgender and nonbinary patients.
Price:
$109 for licensed
$99 for licensed in non-profit organization (Use coupon code at checkout: TRANSFERENCENP99)
$59 for pre-licensed (Use Coupon Code at checkout: TRANSFERENCEPL59)
This course is included in the annual and lifetime memberships.
Completion Requirements
Live Event
To get CE credit for the live event, you need to be present for the entire course.
You will be asked to sign in and out in the chat box in order to track attendance during breaks.
We will email you your certificate of attendance within 48 hours of the course.
This presentation will be recorded and available as a homestudy approximately two weeks after the live event.
Your active participation will contribute and enhance the learning of participants that complete the recorded homestudy version.
Home Study
You will need to take the post-test with at least a 80% score in order to receive your certificate for a home study course.
Additional Information
Instruction Level
This course is meant for an intermediate to advanced audience.
Who should Attend
Psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists and social workers.
Format
Live, virtual five hour presentation with the opportunity for interaction with the presenter. This course will not be available as a recorded homestudy.
Zoom Link
You will receive a reminder email to register for your Zoom link after signing up for the course. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please contact us at info@affirmativecouch.com
Financial Support
The Affirmative Couch pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.
Conflict of Interest
There is no reported conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.
Contact Information
For any inquiries related to subject matter, problem resolution, corrections, grievances, or anything else, please contact us.
Accommodations
The Affirmative Couch will work to accommodate reasonable accommodations requests. Requests can be emailed with the event date and “accommodation request” in the subject line. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Testimonials
A previous version of this course was taught in February 24, 2022 and here’s what participants had to say about the course:
“This was so informative and had rich clinical implication! Cadyn provided so many excellent clinical examples and metaphors that were very illustrative and digestible”
“This was helpful as a cis-gendered therapist in being able to recognize transference and countertransferences with working with LBGTQIA+ folx that I have previously been unable to recognize or work with in a therapeutic way.”
“I wish I’d had more of this in grad school. This made psychodynamics and object relations so much more accessible to me. I became disinterested in psychoanalytic therapy because, based on experiences with professors, I thought psychoanalytic work was inherently homophobic and I struggled to sort out what was helpful and what was not. I wish I’d had more of this and am glad to have found this resource now. ALSO this presentation of psychoanalytic therapy felt humble and respectful. I often experienced my professors as asserting that they knew me, other students, and their clients better than we all each knew ourselves. These experiences left me worried that psychoanalytic therapy often put the therapist in a position of too much power and could be hurtful (which I still think can be the case), but this training has left me with more imagination of how to play with psychodynamic theory.”
Testimonials Regarding the Presenter:
Identity Development around Sexuality, Gender and Relationships
“Cadyn’s mastery of knowledge combined with his personable and approachable style made for a welcoming space for learning.”
“Cadyn is amazing! He is a wealth of knowledge and provides such a rich tapestry of understanding, perspective taking, and case conceptualization. It was so informative and I am excited to share this information not only with clients but also with fellow clinicians.”
Psychological Preparation for Medical Transition
“Dr. Cathers/Cadyn was such a rockstar. I can’t even imagine teaching a 6 hour training, much less a 12-hour. He’s incredible and I hope he enjoyed teaching it as much as we loved learning about the info.”
Continuing Education Approvals
The Affirmative Couch, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Affirmative Couch, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Price:
$109 for licensed
$99 for licensed in non-profit organization (Use coupon code at checkout: TRANSFERENCENP99)
$59 for pre-licensed (Use Coupon Code at checkout: TRANSFERENCEPL59)
This course is included in the annual and lifetime memberships.
$109.00
