ABSTRACT
An impulsive reaction to the types of allegations that put the therapist's professionalism in question may lead the therapist to react with countertransference. It is emotionally taxing for therapists to work with severely traumatized people. The danger of compassion combined with guilt is that the therapist will be tempted to rescue the client by adopting a paternalistic and protective attitude. Having a balanced caseload helps deal with difficult stories. A caseload with too many of the same kind of problems runs the risk of the therapist becoming emotionally numb, and reduces the ability of retaining a sense of proportion and marking distance from the problems. The danger of compassion combined with guilt is that the therapist will be tempted to rescue the client by adopting a paternalistic and protective attitude. Mental health organizations should provide systematic intervision or case consultations, with scheduled time for therapists to discuss their feelings in an atmosphere where it is safe to present vulnerabilities.
