How do child & adolescent psychotherapists work with the erotic transference with adolescents?

Adolescence is a period of profound psychological and physical transformation, during which early feelings, desires, and conflicts are reactivated. Sexuality plays a central role in this developmental phase, and the emergence of sexual and erotic feelings can be particularly unsettling when they arise within the therapeutic relationship. The phenomenon of erotic transference, the displacement of unconscious sexual and loving feelings onto the therapist, poses distinctive clinical and ethical challenges, yet remains underexplored within child and adolescent psychotherapy (Jackson, 2017; Lena, 2017; Brady, 2018; Davids, 2022). This qualitative study explores how Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists (CAPTs) understand and work with erotic transference in adolescent psychotherapy, the risks and opportunities it presents, and the reasons it continues to be a comparatively under-addressed topic within the profession. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six qualified CAPTs trained within a Kleinian or post-Kleinian framework. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2019, 2022). Five overarching themes were identified, including one with subthemes. Findings highlight the importance of recognising and giving meaning to sexuality within therapeutic work, attuning to the adolescent’s developmental stage, and maintaining a reflective stance on the therapist’s own countertransference. The study also underscores the personal, institutional, and cultural resistances that can inhibit open engagement with erotic material. Avoidance of these dynamics risks reinforcing shame and limiting the adolescent’s capacity for integration and relational development. The research calls for greater openness and reflection on erotic transference within training, supervision, and clinical discourse, emphasising its developmental and therapeutic significance when handled ethically and thoughtfully. Implications for clinical practice, training, and future research are discussed.