ABSTRACT
The effective and ethical practice of psychotherapy requires that therapists repeatedly revisit their reasons for training as and becoming psychotherapists and examine honestly what of their own needs their work is seeking to meet, to reduce the potential for exploitation of clients. The therapist's experience, sensitivities and script can impact their work in many different ways, for example, therapists who came from volatile families, or even families where expression of feeling was inhibited, may find it extremely difficult to tolerate and contain their client's anger. Beginning therapists are often unaware of the pervasive influence these forces have upon their motivation, and may react with outrage to requirements that they undertake personal therapy. It is questionable whether these issues will ever be truly resolved, and, in some respects, the practice of psychotherapy may reinforce some of them for individual therapists.
