Psychotherapy and Supervision
Penny Chisholm
Assignment 3
How can supervision help and support a supervisee?
Supervision is a dynamic working allegiance between the supervisor and the supervisee. The supervisor will have gained much more expertise and is trained in the field of therapy and supervision to provide a safe and reflective space within which the supervisee can focus on their clients and develop themselves as a counsellor.
In the supervisory space, characterised by involvement and attuned support, the clients’ welfare is focal. Through careful, honest reflection upon the relational process with the client, therapeutic stuck points can be explored and freed up. Equally the supervisor may carefully analyse transactions and interventions to understand more fully the context of the co created therapeutic relationship.
As the supervisee uncovers disowned thoughts and feelings in relation to their client work they are freer to see the client as a whole and respond flexibly to the therapeutic task. The aim of reflective work is to support the supervisee to move closer to their client’s experience as well as delving into the unconscious process underpinning the dynamic.
The supervisor will use the supervisory relationship to work through any transference issues and to be attentive to the parallel process. This can provide vital information for understanding missing relational and developmental needs in the client. As this can be both challenging and uncomfortable the supervisory relationship needs to be strong and containing with non judgment and acceptance as its basic tenant. The supervisor needs to be attuned to the learning and development needs and styles of the supervisee and demonstrate awareness of their supervisee. Safety enables the supervisee to take risks, work at their growing edge and bring light to the shadows where ‘mistakes’ can be explored and understood.
Requirements for supervisee and Contractual necessity
Working within the supervisee’s process is
Assignment 3
How can supervision help and support a supervisee?
Supervision is a dynamic working allegiance between the supervisor and the supervisee. The supervisor will have gained much more expertise and is trained in the field of therapy and supervision to provide a safe and reflective space within which the supervisee can focus on their clients and develop themselves as a counsellor.
In the supervisory space, characterised by involvement and attuned support, the clients’ welfare is focal. Through careful, honest reflection upon the relational process with the client, therapeutic stuck points can be explored and freed up. Equally the supervisor may carefully analyse transactions and interventions to understand more fully the context of the co created therapeutic relationship.
As the supervisee uncovers disowned thoughts and feelings in relation to their client work they are freer to see the client as a whole and respond flexibly to the therapeutic task. The aim of reflective work is to support the supervisee to move closer to their client’s experience as well as delving into the unconscious process underpinning the dynamic.
The supervisor will use the supervisory relationship to work through any transference issues and to be attentive to the parallel process. This can provide vital information for understanding missing relational and developmental needs in the client. As this can be both challenging and uncomfortable the supervisory relationship needs to be strong and containing with non judgment and acceptance as its basic tenant. The supervisor needs to be attuned to the learning and development needs and styles of the supervisee and demonstrate awareness of their supervisee. Safety enables the supervisee to take risks, work at their growing edge and bring light to the shadows where ‘mistakes’ can be explored and understood.
Requirements for supervisee and Contractual necessity
Working within the supervisee’s process is
References: Erskine R (1997), ‘Theories and Methods of an integrative Transactional Analysis’ TA Press San Francisco Erskine R and Moursund J (2004)’Integrative Psychotherapy’ the Art and Science of Relationship’ Thomson Books Gilbert M and Evans K. (2000) ‘Psychotherapy Supervision, an integrative relational approach to psychotherapy supervision’ Open University Press Hawkins P and Shohet R (2000) Supervision in the helping Professions, 2nd ed. Buckingham; P57, 60 available from www.dawsonera.com (e-book accessed 7/1/2011) Kohurt H. (1984) ’How does analysis cure?’ Chicago II: University of Chicago Press Safran J (1993) ‘The Therapeutic Alliance rupture as trans theoretical phenomenon’ Journal of psychotherapy Integration, 3(1); 33-49 Wallin D’ (2007)’Attachment in Psychotherapy’, The Guildford Press Carroll, Michael & Gilbert, Maria (2005): On being a Supervisee: creating learning partnerships. London Vukani Pub P100, 103. Bond, Tim (2010) BACP: Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Leicestershire. Pp 3,7 Available from: http://www.bacp.co.uk [accessed 8/1/2011]