Transference is defined to include feelings a patient has toward a therapist that do not befit the therapist but rather reflect the patient's past personal experiences. The reaction in the reverse direction by the therapist toward the patient is often referred to as countertransference. The basic premise of the article by Mitchell and Melikian is that therapists caring for male sex offenders can have countertransference reactions that are disturbing to the therapist and that may interfere with the therapeutic process. The commentary on the article agrees that professionals in the sexual abuse field can experience many troublesome countertransference reactions. These reactions may include violent or sexual fantasies about pediatric victims and parents, as well as overly positive feelings about offenders. The commentary concludes that all professionals involved in the sexual abuse field should have a working knowledge of the countertransference phenomenon and should recognize their sadistic and humanistic feelings and manage the impact of such feelings on patient care. 9 references