ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on socially conditioned responses versus therapeutic responses such as curiosity and a non-judgmental attitude. The chapter describes how therapists, with tact and timing, can turn social rituals and therapist mistakes into therapeutic opportunities. Therapist mistakes are an inevitable part of psychotherapy. These mistakes can be hurtful only if the therapist does not own and deal with them. Viewing them as therapeutic opportunities rather than obstacles, the therapist can employ these socially conditioned responses and countertransference mistakes for therapeutic purposes. Two histories provide examples of the countertransference metabolism required to deal with therapist mistakes. The patient histories illustrate how easily the therapist can be pulled into socially conditioned responses that are not therapeutic.
