Shared Vulnerability: Psychodynamic Reflections on Personal History and Clinical Practice in a Therapeutic Community.

Abstract

Reflecting on early-career experiences working with patients with severe personality disorders in a therapeutic community, this article explores the counter-transference challenges faced by novice clinicians. I discuss how intense patient projections can activate unresolved conflicts within therapists, often influencing their clinical responses. Countertransference is examined as a co-created experience shaped by both therapist and patient dynamics. Emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, personal analysis, and supportive environments, this perspective offers insights to help early-career clinicians manage the unique emotional demands of working with personality pathology.