Listening for and Holding Traumatic Rage in an Intersubjective Intercultural Field

This article highlights various constructs from the perspective of D.W. Winnicott, trauma theories, intersubjectivity, and intercultural practice as guides for listening on multiple levels to inform the biopsychosocial–spiritual assessment and treatment. Using a clinical case composite, the author will illustrate the working alliance with a severely traumatized client, emphasizing the intense transference and countertransference rage and enactments that occurred during the course of the clinical social work practice. The therapeutic holding environment was challenged but maintained by working through relationship breakdowns, restoring intercultural subjective space and containing powerless rage.