Free Cheat Sheet · The Social Work Progressive
Relational Dynamics at a Glance
A clinician’s quick reference for what is happening in the room.
Transference, countertransference, projection, and displacement show up in the therapy room every day. They are not abstract concepts; they are clinical data. This one-page Cheat Sheet gives you the language and the framework to start working with the four dynamics in your own caseload.
What is inside the free Cheat Sheet
A working clinician’s one-page reference
The kind you keep in your supervision folder or pin above your desk.
- The four dynamics (transference, countertransference, projection, displacement) in plain language
- Signs to watch for in the room and signs to watch for in yourself
- Self-check questions for each dynamic
- A five-step clinical response framework: pause, name internally, stay curious, bring it to the room when appropriate, bring it to supervision
- Three reframes to carry into practice
Who this is for
This Cheat Sheet is built for
- MSW and BSW students who are encountering relational dynamics for the first time as named clinical concepts and want a working reference, not a textbook chapter
- Pre-licensed clinicians and recent graduates who learned the vocabulary in school and now need it operational in their first caseload
- Licensed clinicians who want a refresher and a single page they can hand to a supervisee
- Field instructors and clinical supervisors who want a shared reference for the practitioners they are guiding
- MSW faculty building relational dynamics into a clinical theory or practice course
If you have ever been in a session where something happened between you and the client that you could not quite name, this is the reference for that moment.
What you will be able to do
After fifteen minutes with the Cheat Sheet
- Distinguish the four dynamics from each other and recognize when more than one is operating
- Notice your own countertransference earlier, before it shapes your next clinical decision
- Apply a structured response framework instead of reaching for whatever felt right last time
- Bring more specific clinical questions to supervision
This is a starting point, not a complete training. The full kit (described below) is for when you are ready to go further.
The full Relational Dynamics kit
For when the Cheat Sheet has earned its place on your desk
The full kit is built for two audiences. The kit was significantly expanded in 2026 with new pieces and three deepenings of existing pieces.
RD Clinical Pack
For clinicians and supervisors. Six pieces.
$49
- Vignettes Walkthrough with eight annotated cases (Marcus, Aisha, David, Janelle, Mireille and Camille, Delphine, Reverend Theo, Lin and Patrick).
- Clinical Self-Reflection Template, a six-section single-use supervision tool
- Self-Reflection Workbook, a six-week multi-session companion
- Case Formulation Guide, with worked example using Marcus
- Supervision and Consultation Template, a seven-section structured intake
- In-Session Decision Guide, a one-page landscape decision aid
RD Educator Pack
For faculty, field instructors, and CEU providers. Six pieces.
$99
- Classroom Worksheet, a four-section fillable template
- Discussion Prompts, twelve prompts with a three-level grading rubric
- Lecture and Lesson Plan, a 3-hour single session and a 4-week course module
- Assessment Rubric Set, three rubrics with CSWE 2022 EPAS competency mapping
- Instructor Guide, Part 1: Remote and Asynchronous Edition
- Instructor Guide, Part 2: In-Person and Embodied Edition
A rebranded slide deck will be added as a free update later this year.
Add to cart · $99RD Complete Bundle
Both packs at a bundled price.
$129
For clinicians who also teach, supervisors who also see clients, or programs that want everything in one place. Saves nineteen dollars versus buying the two packs separately.
Add to cart · $129About me
I am Stephanie Smith, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado, with advanced credentials in gerontology (ASW-G) and case management (C-ASWCM). I am Director of Clinical Services for an early-stage wellness company, adjunct faculty in BSW and MSW programs, a senior improvement advisor across CMS Region 8 long-term care, and a field liaison for MSW students.
I built this kit because relational dynamics are taught in MSW programs and rarely taught well enough. We move through transference and countertransference in a single class period. We name projection and displacement in a defense mechanisms lecture. Then we send graduates into community mental health centers, hospitals, schools, child welfare offices, and private practice with caseloads of forty to sixty, no individual supervision, and no language for what is happening between them and their clients.
The clinicians I have learned the most from are the ones who treat relational dynamics as the work, not as a side topic. This kit is for that kind of practice.
Frequently asked questions
Questions clinicians ask
Is the Cheat Sheet really free?
Yes. Drop your email and the Cheat Sheet downloads as a PDF. You will be added to the email list, where you will hear from me about new toolkits and clinical writing as they are published. You can unsubscribe at any time, and your email is not shared with anyone.
What is the difference between the free Cheat Sheet and the paid Vignettes Walkthrough?
The Cheat Sheet is a one-page reference. The Vignettes Walkthrough is a longer workbook with eight full clinical cases, two-column analysis of each, language you can try in the moment, and reflection prompts for supervision or classroom use.
Can I use this material with my students or supervisees?
Yes. The Cheat Sheet is for individual reference. If you want to teach with this material at scale (CEU programs, MSW courses, field seminars, agency trainings), the Educator Pack is designed for that.
Is this CEU-approved?
The kit is built to ASWB ACE design standards, but it is not packaged as a CEU course on its own. If you want to use it for continuing education in your own jurisdiction, consult your state board’s requirements and your organization’s ASWB ACE provider status before awarding credit.
Is this a psychoanalytic training?
No. The kit names concepts that come from psychodynamic and psychoanalytic traditions and integrates them into the kinds of clinical work most social workers actually do: case management, brief intervention, family practice, group work, supervision.
What if I have a question about whether this material fits my program?
Send me a message. The contact form is at thesocialworkprogressive.com/contact. I read every message myself.
Start with the Cheat Sheet
The four dynamics, on one page, in your hand
The Cheat Sheet is the working clinician’s reference for what is happening in the room. Drop your email, and the PDF downloads in your browser.
Or send me a message if you have a question about whether this material fits your program. I read every message myself.
The Social Work Progressive · Stephanie A. Smith, MSW, LCSW, ASW-G, C-ASWCM