This study is aimed at examining the mediating effect of countertransference management ability in the relationship between adolescent counselor's attachment and working alliance. For the purpose, 60 counselors who were working with adolescent client...
This study is aimed at examining the mediating effect of countertransference management ability in the relationship between adolescent counselor's attachment and working alliance. For the purpose, 60 counselors who were working with adolescent clients(primary school 3 grade~college) at various counseling centers located in Seoul and Suwon areas completed the questionaire packet after 5 session.
The research results are as follow.
First, there was a significant correlation among counselor's attachment anxiety, counselor's attachment avoidance, working alliance and countertransference management ability. Counselor's attachment anxiety and counselor's attachment avoidance were both negatively related with working alliance and countertransference management ability. Working alliance was positively related with countertransference management ability.
Second, there were significant differences in working alliance and countertransference management ability according to the counselor's attachment styles. There were differences in 2 sub factors of working alliance(goal, task) and 2 sub factors of countertransference management ability (self-integration, anxiety-management) according to the counselor's attachment styles. Secure attachment counselors had better goal agreement and task agreement with adolescent clients, and more self-integration and anxiety-management than fearful attachment counselors.
Third, countertransference management ability had completely mediating effect in the relationship between counselor's attachment and working alliance.
Finally the counselor's personal characteristics (attachment, countertransference management ability) and working alliance, the limitations of this study and the directions of future atudy were discussed.