Therapist emotional responses to patients: Building a learning-based language

In this paper we address the thesis that affective responses of the therapi st in the therapist-patient interaction are common and have potential to in fluence decision points in psychotherapy interventions. We discuss the impo rtance of directly addressing these emotional responses, especially in the training of new cognitive behavioral therapists. We suggest a framework for conceptualizing emotional responses from a social learning theory perspect ive. This conceptualization highlights interactions between therapist, pati ent, and the psychotherapy context. We also propose a terminology for discu ssing therapist emotional reactions as nonpathological constructs and Propo se relevant guidelines for the supervision of therapists in training.