ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses various forms of countertransference in therapists who have worked with survivors or the children of the survivors of traumata that have contributed to therapists' failure to listen, explore, understand, and help. It presents countertransference experiences of therapists working with the survivors of extreme trauma, in this case the Holocaust, Little has been written about the experience of therapists working with other survivors of massive trauma. The term countertransference is used as it has been commonly used to describe therapists' own emotional reactions and difficulties experienced when working with this traumatized population. Traditional training generally does not prepare professionals to deal with massive trauma and its long-term effects. In addition to information about the trauma terrain, familiarity with the growing body of literature on the psychological sequelae of the traumata on its survivors and their offspring also helps prepare mental health professionals.
