The pregnant therapist

The therapist's pregnancy and subsequent maternity leave affects treatment by stimulating many transference and countertransference reactions. Many clients will feel abandoned and rejected, and experience sibling rivalry and oedipal strivings. The therapist's pregnancy can be an opportunity for clients to work through issues of separation and loss, and to make significant progress in treatment. Case examples from the author's experience during her first pregnancy are used to illustrate how such reactions can be managed in treatment.