July 2025 Clinical Supervision Topic: Therapist Effect and AEDP
For years, I’ve been thinking about therapist effect — why some clinicians (social workers, counselors, or therapists) consistently get better outcomes than others, no matter what methods they’re using.
Lately, I’ve been especially focused on two pieces of that puzzle: how we handle our own internal reactions (countertransference) and how we respond when things go off track in the relationship (rupture and repair).
We’re often taught to manage or suppress countertransference. But I’ve come to believe it’s not just something to “get out of the way.” Our feelings, sometimes unexpected, messy, or uncomfortable, can actually offer clues about what’s happening in the room. Ignoring them can leave important things unexplored.
And then there’s rupture and repair. Research keeps showing that how we navigate moments of disconnection is a big part of what makes some therapists more effective. People who can stay regulated, curious, and open during awkward or tense moments often help clients feel safer and more deeply understood.
This is where Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) has been so useful for me. AEDP doesn’t just offer techniques. It gives me a way to stay present and real, even when my own emotions are activated or when things feel strained with a client.
When it comes to countertransference, AEDP encourages me not just to notice my reactions but to use them thoughtfully. For example:
Moment-to-moment tracking helps me stay tuned into subtle shifts in my client’s feelings, body language, or energy. It keeps me curious and responsive to what’s happening right now. But when I notice strong reactions in myself, I know it’s important to pause and check in internally first. Instead of continuing to track the client, I might briefly turn inward, ask myself what’s going on, and decide whether my reaction belongs to me, to the client, or to what’s happening between us. Once I feel more grounded, I can return to tracking the client; or, if it might help the work, I can choose to share my experience in a thoughtful way.
Self-disclosure of my emotional experience allows me, when appropriate, to share what’s happening for me in a way that can deepen connection or bring relief to the client.
“I’m feeling really moved hearing you talk about this.”
These skills help me transform countertransference from something that might derail therapy into something that can create intimacy and insight.
When it comes to rupture and repair, AEDP offers tools that keep me grounded and connected, even when the relationship hits bumps:
Dyadic regulation (co-regulation plus intentional therapeutic interventions to help process emotion) helps me steady the client when emotions run high. It’s about creating safety so clients can keep exploring, rather than shutting down.
“Let’s slow down for a moment and take a breath together.”
Undoing aloneness ensures clients don’t feel abandoned during difficult moments, which is crucial for repairing ruptures.
“You’re not alone with this right now. I’m right here with you.”
Metatherapeutic processing allows me to talk with clients about what it’s like for them to have just gone through a hard or healing moment together, which can be part of solidifying a repair.
“How is it for you to feel this relief right now, after sharing all of that?”
AEDP gives me a map for how to lean into these vulnerable places instead of backing away. It’s one of the reasons I believe these skills are right at the heart of therapist effect.
A few questions I keep asking myself:
What’s my countertransference trying to tell me right now?
How do I notice a rupture, and what helps me lean into it instead of avoiding it?
Who am I as a clinician when things get messy?
How might AEDP skills help me navigate these moments with more presence and courage?
I’d love to hear how you’re thinking about this. How do you work with your own internal experiences in therapy? What’s helped you get better at rupture and repair?
PS: Be sure to come to the July 13th gathering I’m hosting in Portland, would love to see you in person!
