It’s always in the room

Abstract

This present study explored how female therapists experience erotic transference in the therapeutic encounter. Five experienced female therapists were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that, female therapists in the main, recognise erotic transference. The present study found that the therapist’s personality and experience are invaluable resources when dealing with it. Erotic transference can have an emotional impact on the therapist for whom supervision is a stabilising process. A common thread running through this research was that erotic transference enters the room regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of either the client or the therapist. This present study may have implications for therapists, supervisors and trainers who bear a responsibility, to be fully aware of the possible impact of this phenomenon.