The role of the therapist's critical parent

The need for nurse therapists to be aware of their own feelings, beliefs, and attitudes is all-important if treatment is to be effective. In this paper, the author uses the concept of the therapist's Critical Parent (from Berne's 1961 Transactional Analysis model) to explore countertransference reactions. Clinical examples from the author's professional experience are employed to demonstrate the interplay of ego states between therapist and client and how understanding of the effect of the therapist's Critical parent can enhance his or her ability to intervene effectively.