Indirect Communication as a Therapeutic Technique: A Novel Use of Countertransference

Recognizing those moments in psychotherapy when it is not useful or even counterproductive to speak directly to the patient, this paper discusses indirect communication as a therapeutic technique. Using this method, the therapist thinks aloud in the room without looking at the patient. The therapist formulates the soliloquy in response to his or her countertransference. Winnicottian concepts provide a theoretical rationale. The background and description of the technique, along with concerns about and contraindications to its use are discussed. Three clinical applications are presented.