Choice points in psychotherapy supervision: On the experiences of supervisors in supervision

The experiences of clinicians enrolled in study groups to examine the supervisory process form the basis for this article. Following a description of the groups, the issues that received the most discussion are considered. These include: the primary focus of supervision; the developmental sequences within supervision; the therapist’s personality; competing models of treatment; evaluation issues; and the multidirectional influences between client, therapist and supervisor. While supervision is not therapy, powerful elements are operant within the relationship. Parallel process as well as modeling paradigms suggest that what transpires within supervision has implications for the therapy and the learning of the therapist.