Eric Wolterstorff: Transference as a central lever for healing & growth

Eric Wolterstorff discusses the complexities of transference and counter-transference in therapy, particularly in the context of trauma. He shares an experience that illustrates the powerful dynamics at play and how they can lead to healing.

















Eric Wolterstorff, Ph.D., began his training in the 1990s under leading psychotherapists like Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, Arnold Mindell, and Max Schupbach. His early inquiry into how different methods (psychotherapy, yoga, meditation) yield distinct benefits led him to develop the Trauma Integration Protocol™. With a Ph.D. in sociology focused on how groups respond to crises, Eric has trained clinicians across the globe in topics such as posttraumatic memory, transference, family systems, and trust-building. He has worked at the intersection of trauma, development, and systemic interventions in post-conflict regions, founding Sovereignty First—a consultancy that strengthens collaboration among international social impact networks. He is known for bridging neuroscience (memory systems), group systems behavior (the behavior of groups under threat, and group psychosocial development), and clinical insight into a dynamic, precise teaching style. See website.