Countertransference Resistance: Over-gratifying the Patient

with Patricia Ulis, MSW, LCSW

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

On Zoom Only – 1 CE

Participation is FREE

$17 Admin Fee for each CE

Registration closes March 4th at 10:00 AM EST

Patient resistance is a familiar and expected part of psychotherapy, and working through it can be deeply transformative for both patient and clinician. But what happens when the therapist experiences resistance within the therapeutic relationship?

Countertransference resistances—whether understood as induced responses or as elements of the therapist’s own emotional history—are common, normal, and often overlooked aspects of clinical work. Recognizing these reactions in real time is essential to maintaining a strong therapeutic alliance and supporting meaningful treatment progress.

One form of countertransference resistance is the impulse to over-gratify the patient. When difficult feelings arise, therapists may feel pressure to provide quick relief, avoid disappointment, or prevent anger. While understandable, this response can unintentionally interfere with the therapeutic process. Learning to recognize and thoughtfully use one’s countertransference reactions—even when they are uncomfortable—can become one of the most valuable tools in psychotherapy.

This presentation will explore the dynamics of over-gratifying the patient as a countertransference resistance, using clinical examples to illustrate how greater awareness can strengthen therapeutic effectiveness.

Course Objectives – Participants will be able to:

• Define the concept of countertransference resistance.
• Recognize how countertransference resistance can appear in the clinical setting.
• Describe the impulse to over-gratify the patient and the potential risks involved.
• Identify strategies for utilizing or minimizing countertransference resistances in treatment.

Meet your speaker:
Patricia Ulis, MSW, LCSW

Patricia Ulis, MSW, LCSW, is a social worker, psychotherapist, in Livingston, NJ, with over 25 years of experience in private practice. Earlier in her career she worked in outpatient settings serving individuals with chronic and severe mental illness. Ms. Ulis has extensive training in a variety of therapeutic approaches and is currently an Advanced Candidate in the Modern Psychoanalytic Certificate Program at ACAP. She also serves as a clinician with ACAP’s NJCC treatment service in Livingston.

ACAP is an approved CE provider for:

Art Therapists

Counselors

Marriage and Family Counselors

NJ Psychoanalysts

Social Workers

NY Creative Arts Therapists

Psychologists

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CE @ ACAP/BGSP-NJ