Spirituality and countertransference: Individual and systemic considerations

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Psychology
• Spirituality Studies

Background:

• Spirituality is increasingly recognized as integral to holistic and palliative care.
• However, the potential impact of countertransference on spiritual care remains under-addressed.
• This gap can compromise the effectiveness of spiritual support in end-of-life care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the intersection of spirituality and countertransference in hospice and palliative care.
• To highlight individual and systemic factors influencing this dynamic.
• To provide practical implications for practitioners in spiritual care.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis.
• Extension of Kenneth Pargament's framework on spirituality.
• Identification of perceptions that can exacerbate countertransference in spiritual care.

Main Results:

• Countertransference, in various forms, can significantly impede the delivery of effective spiritual care.
• Specific perceptions can heighten the challenges at the intersection of spirituality and countertransference.
• Practitioner awareness and specific questioning techniques are crucial.

Conclusions:

• Addressing countertransference is essential for fully realizing the importance of spirituality in palliative and hospice care.
• Systemic and individual considerations of countertransference require attention.
• Providing practitioners with tools to elicit spiritual matters can enhance care quality.