Abstract

The following Arts-Based study focused on the exploration of a student drama therapist’s experience of Countertransference (CT) at his practicum site. This process was facilitated using Moustakas’ Heuristic Inquiry process. The exploration of his CT by creating post-session dramatic responses regarding his perceived CT with his clients led the researcher to create the Countertransference Inquiry Performance (CTIP). This new model based on Moustakas’ Heuristic Inquiry process and Arts-Based research practices encourages the researcher to create dramatic representations and responses of drama therapy sessions over a period of time to explore clinical CT for the ultimate goal of improving clinical practice. Developing this process included creative self-reflection, script writing, and then performing for a selected audience of mental health professionals in order to explore, better understand and manage CT. A post-performance anonymous questionnaire surveyed the opinions of the audience members. The study contains a brief literature review of CT and CT in the creative arts therapies. It also contains the researcher’s process and supplementary materials from the development of creating the CTIP.