ATTACHMENT STYLES IN THERAPY

FREE QUIZ

This quiz helps psychologists reflect on how their attachment styles influence their ability to manage transference and countertransference in therapy.

Please answer all questions as honestly as possible, without outcome bias. Choose only the option that best represents how you manage transference and countertransference in your therapeutic relationships. Do not look at the scoring sheet or interpretations until after you have finished the quiz. Then reflect on your results and make note of the skills you would like to develop/improve. These guidelines will help you get the most out of the information this quiz will give you.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

When a client becomes emotionally dependent or overly attached, how do you typically respond? *

I stay calm and professional, maintaining clear boundaries while addressing the client’s needs.

I feel anxious, worrying about how much reassurance the client needs from me.

I feel uncomfortable with their emotional dependence and tend to distance myself.

I feel conflicted, wanting to help but also fearing becoming too involved.

When a client projects feelings of abandonment or rejection onto you, how do you manage it? *

I help the client explore these feelings without internalizing them.

I feel concerned that I’m not doing enough to reassure the client.

I tend to detach emotionally, keeping professional distance.

I find myself reacting with mixed emotions—both wanting to help but also feeling overwhelmed.

If a client doesn’t attend a session or cancels without explanation, how do you feel? *

I trust that we can discuss it professionally in the next session.

I worry that I’ve done something wrong and feel anxious about the missed session.

I don’t feel personally affected and appreciate the break.

I feel both anxious and distant—part of me wants to know what went wrong, but I also feel hesitant to address it directly.

How do you handle a client’s intense emotions, such as anger or deep sadness, during a session? *

I remain grounded, helping the client process these feelings in a supportive way.

I feel a bit overwhelmed and question whether I’m doing enough to help.

I keep a calm but emotionally distant stance, avoiding getting too involved.

I feel torn between wanting to offer comfort and maintaining professional distance.

How do you manage when a client wants to rely heavily on you for emotional support outside of sessions? *

I maintain clear boundaries while exploring the client’s emotional needs within sessions.

I worry that I might be abandoning the client if I don’t provide extra support.

I feel uncomfortable with their reliance and try to reinforce professional boundaries.

I feel conflicted—wanting to support the client but also fearing over-involvement.

When a client expresses admiration or affection towards you, how do you typically react? *

I recognize this as transference and work with the client to explore the underlying dynamics.

I feel flattered but also concerned about managing these feelings appropriately.

I distance myself emotionally to prevent attachment from forming.

I feel conflicted between addressing the feelings and maintaining a strict professional distance.

What is your biggest concern when you sense a client is developing a strong attachment to you? *

Ensuring that I help the client understand and process these feelings therapeutically.

Worrying that I won’t be able to meet the client’s emotional needs sufficiently.

Feeling that the client’s attachment is becoming intrusive and uncomfortable.

Being torn between wanting to foster a helpful connection and fearing over-involvement or harm.

When there is conflict or tension in the therapeutic relationship, how do you handle it? *

I engage the client in a conversation about their feelings and the dynamics at play.

I feel anxious and worry that I’ve done something wrong.

I tend to avoid confronting the tension directly and maintain emotional distance.

I feel conflicted—part of me wants to address it, but I also hesitate out of fear of making it worse.

How do you manage your own emotional reactions (countertransference) when a client triggers strong feelings in you? *

I reflect on my emotions and seek supervision or consultation to ensure they don’t interfere with the therapy.

I feel anxious and question whether I’m handling the client’s emotions correctly.

I shut down emotionally to maintain professional distance.

I experience conflicting emotions, sometimes feeling drawn in, but also hesitant to engage fully.

How do you view the therapeutic relationship in terms of attachment and boundaries? *

I see it as a secure, professional relationship built on trust and healthy boundaries.

I worry about maintaining boundaries while also supporting the client’s emotional needs.

I prioritize maintaining emotional distance to prevent the client from becoming too attached.

I find the relationship to be complex and sometimes feel unsure about maintaining the right balance between support and boundaries.