Purpose: This study was done to describe the countertransference experience of nursing students in psychiatric nurs-ing practice. Methods: Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin`s grounded theory. Individual in-depth inter-views were conducted with 13 participants who were women nursing students. Results: The core category was “narrowing mind distance with patients by exploring countertransference”. The countertransference experience process consisted of four sequential phases: exploring a countertransference, managing a countertransference, in-creasing understanding of patients, and establishing a trusting relationship. Conclusion: The results from the study contribute to promoting understanding of the countertransference experience of nursing students` during nursing practise and should be helpful in therapeutic communication competence education.