Which term is associated with a social worker's need to communicate their own feelings during client interactions?

The correct answer, countertransference, refers specifically to the phenomenon where a social worker projects their own emotional responses, attitudes, or feelings onto a client based on the social worker's past experiences, conflicts, or emotional state. This can occur unconsciously and can impact the social worker's ability to remain objective during client interactions. Recognizing and managing countertransference is crucial for social workers, as it helps them maintain professionalism and focus on the client's needs rather than their own emotional reactions.

In the context of social work practice, understanding countertransference allows social workers to reflect on their feelings and biases that arise in response to clients, which aids in the development of more effective therapeutic relationships. Training in this area emphasizes the importance of being attuned to one's own emotional responses and how they can influence the helping relationship.

Self-reflection and self-awareness are essential skills for social workers, but they pertain more to understanding one's feelings and actions in general rather than the specific dynamic that occurs when a social worker's personal feelings affect their interaction with clients. Peer support can also be valuable in discussing feelings or experiences, but it does not directly address the issue of how those feelings manifest during client interactions.