In the belly of the beast: traumatic countertransference

The authors discuss their work together in a consultation process. One author led many groups that were created to facilitate recovery for persons directly impacted by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; the other acted as consultant to the therapist/leader. The leader was a resident of New York City at the time of the attacks; the consultant lived in a distant Midwestern city and the two had never met prior to the work. They describe their experience of working together and the role of this collaboration in the lives of the leader and the groups. Well aware that little exists in the literature about groups led by leaders having experienced the same trauma as group members, the authors pay special attention to the countertransference that each underwent and raise questions about the effects of that on the group process.