Ethics Category
Live Event

Navigating Countertransference During Difficult Times

Wed, Oct 7th, 2026
12:00pm – 2:00pm US Eastern Time
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About the Event

When our sociopolitical environment is acutely challenging, both therapist and client may be navigating the same internal and external crises. Within the context of global stress, countertransference may be heightened. Objective neutrality can be complicated by our shared human experience of fear, anxiety, and a loss of our sense of safety. Threats to our emotional, social, moral, and physical safety can create intense vulnerability. In the therapeutic relationship, this vulnerability may manifest in treatment-interfering ways, such as over-identification, emotional distancing, compassion fatigue, or the urge to “fix” the client. At these times, managing our own countertransference is paramount to best practice. This workshop will provide tools to effectively use clinicians’ own experiences as clinical data, regulate emotional and behavioral reactions to clients, and support clients through challenging times.

Live Event
This live online event will be held as a Zoom Webinar. Attendees will have the option to interact through features such as the Chat and Q&A, but cameras and microphones will not be enabled.

Live Event Instructor

Ellen Blaufox

Ellen Blaufox

Ellen Blaufox, LCSW-R has been a professional speaker and trainer for mental health professionals for almost three decades. She has trained mental health professionals in a variety of social service agencies, higher education institutions (NYU, Adelphi, Stony Brook, Rutgers), and private organizations providing continuing education . As an Adjunct Professor at NYU Silver School of Social Work on the Westchester Campus, Ellen taught Diversity, Racism, Oppression & Privilege for multiple semesters. She was also an Adjunct Professor at Iona College where she taught Trauma in Film. In her clinical and supervisory work, Ellen was fortunate to be part of the development and implementation of myriad evidence-based, trauma treatment models.Clinical Director of the largest psychiatric treatment facility for adolescents in New York State for almost ten years, her Senior Leadership role, lead to the creation of a specialized unit for adolescent survivors or human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Ellen's clinical and supervisory work has contributed to the research, and development of various, remarkable, innovative & helpful treatment models including Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) for Residential Populations, LGBTQ + and survivors of Human Trafficking. In addition Additionally, Ellen was a Core Team member at the Jewish Board that worked with Dr. Sandra Bloom in the adaptation and implementation of the Sanctuary Model from adult (SELF) to adolescent (SAGE) populations. Ellen Blaufox, LCSW-R has been trained (and trains others in) such evidenced-based practices as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Ellen believes that a therapeutic relationship that ensures safety, open communication and transparency, as well as hope and optimism are the proven key ingredients in patient satisfaction and successful prognosis.

Target Audience

This live interactive is intended for Behavioral Health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, counselors, marriage & family therapists, art therapists, school psychologists, psychoanalysts, music therapists, behavior analysts, and school counselors. It is appropriate for intermediate levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Differentiate between standard clinical countertransference and “shared trauma” countertransference triggered by acute socio-political crises.
  2. 2 Identify at least three personal behavioral indicators of heightened vulnerability in session, including over-identification, emotional distancing, and the urge to "fix."
  3. 3 Apply a clinical framework to use internal affective experiences (fear, anxiety, moral distress) as helpful diagnostic data.
  4. 4 Formulate an in-session emotion regulation plan using grounding and CBT techniques to maintain therapeutic boundaries.

Berg, J. (2026). Countertransference struggles of mental health psychotherapists. Social Work in Mental Health, 24(2), 183-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2025.2550342

Nassif, R. M., Radjack, R., Beaini, N., Choueiri, T., Binkowski, G., Dozio, E., ... & Husseini, M. E. (2025). Shared realities, therapeutic settings, and countertransference in times of crisis: a multinational qualitative study of psychotherapists’ experiences. BMC psychology, 13(1), 626. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02962-z

Abrams, Z. (2025, September 1). CE corner: How to manage countertransference in therapy. Monitor on Psychology, 56(6). ⁠https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/09/managing-countertransference

Vogel, J. (2024). Use of countertransference to advance therapeutic efficacy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 77(4), 180-184. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20230035

Stefana, A., Fusar-Poli, P., Gnisci, C., Vieta, E., & Youngstrom, E. A. (2022). Clinicians’ emotional reactions toward patients with depressive symptoms in mood disorders: a narrative scoping review of empirical research. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(22), 15403. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215403

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

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Joint Accreditation (JA)

2 Psychologist CE credit hours
2 Social Worker CE credit hours Ethics
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
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American Psychological Association (APA)

2 CE credit hours Ethics
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
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Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)

2 CE credit hours Ethics
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 2 ethics continuing education credit(s).
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National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
CE Learning Systems has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5951. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Learning Systems is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 2 NBCC hour(s) awarded.
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NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Sep 29th, 2026
This course has been approved by CE Learning Systems, service provider of Impact CE, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #192243, CE Learning Systems is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
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Florida Certification Board (FCB)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).
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Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.
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New York Education Department Board of Social Work

2 contact hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Provider #0060.
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New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
CE Learning Systems (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008
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New York Education Department Board of Mental Health Counseling

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0072.
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New York Education Department Board of Psychologists

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC, (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for psychologists, # PSY-0016.
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New York Education Department Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0045.
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Virginia Certification Board (VCB)

2 CE credit hours
Eligible until Oct 7th, 2026
Virginia Certification Board educational provider # 106
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Event Agenda

Agenda times are listed in US Eastern Time. That is 3 hours later than US Pacific Time. The event starts at 9:00am US Pacific Time.

12:00–12:10 PM: Welcome and Introduction

12:10–12:50 PM: Discussion: Differentiating Standard Clinical Countertransference and “Shared Trauma” Countertransference Triggered by Acute Sociopolitical Crises

12:50–1:20 PM: Case Examples: Identifying Personal Behavioral Indicators of Heightened Vulnerability in Session, Including Over-Identification, Emotional Distancing, and the Urge to “Fix”

1:20–1:50 PM: Intervention Strategies
Formulating an In-Session Emotion Regulation Plan Using Grounding and CBT Techniques to Maintain Therapeutic Boundaries

1:50–2:00 PM: Final Remarks and Closing

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