The Supervisory Relationship
A relationship about the relationship... about other relationships.
Warning: Complexity Ahead.
Clinical supervision is a rich and dynamic endeavor. The complexity of supervision, especially the supervisory relationship on which it is built, cannot be underestimated. In supervision, supervisors are tasked with guiding the process through the supervisory relationship. During supervision, the supervisor must attend to the complex interpersonal dynamics among the supervisee, the supervisee's patients, and themselves. From this perspective, the supervisory relationship encompasses an intricate, interconnected triadic system involving the patient, the supervisee, and the supervisor.
Supervisory Relationship: A Three-Person System
The supervisory relationship is understood as the feelings and attitudes that supervision participants have toward one another and how they are expressed. When we shift our focus to the systems at play within the supervisory relationship we can see that this relationship encompasses a three-person system (client, therapist, and supervisor), leading to three perspectives. The supervisee is at the center of the system (Bernard & Goodyear).
Supervisees play a crucial role in the system as they are involved in two direct relationships: the patient-supervisee and the supervisee-supervisor. There is also an indirect or implicit relationship between the supervisor and the patient, as their behaviors can impact each other, even though they may never meet or directly interact (Bernard & Goodyear). During supervision, it is beneficial for the supervisor to focus on the relationship between themselves and the supervisee. This dyadic relationship forms the foundation of supervision and is often called the supervision or working alliance.
Building & Maintaining: Supervision Alliance
The dyadic relationship between the supervisor and supervisee is commonly termed the working or supervision alliance. The supervision alliance resembles the therapeutic relationship, further constituting the foundation of effective supervision. Establishing a trustworthy and collaborative partnership between the supervisor and supervisee is paramount for success (Falender & Shafranske). Supervisors must develop this bond with their supervisees while nurturing an environment of processing, growth, and trust. The supervision alliance is the main learning tool as the supervisor-supervisee dyad mirrors the patient-supervisee (therapist) relationship.
Fostering a Supervisory Space
During supervision, the supervisor aspires to foster an open and secure supervisory space through the alliance recognizing that this collaborative process necessitates time and patience.
The strategies for establishing and sustaining the supervision (working) alliance include:
Attending to the frame: Setting clear expectations, collaboratively establishing agreed-upon goals, setting and holding to a weekly meeting schedule, starting and ending supervision on time
Communication and feedback: Giving, receiving, & eliciting feedback, clear communication (i.e., timely, often, transparent), providing evaluative updates on supervisee strengths & areas of growth
Working with and through resistance: Understanding that resistance is a part of the process, helping to manage and normalize supervisee anxiety
Building the bond (trust & rapport): Remaining non-threatening and open, demonstrating empathy, support, and respect, committing to supervisee professional growth, devoting genuine time and interest
Using the Alliance: Self & Others
The supervision alliance offers a learning tool in itself. Supervisors and their supervisees can work together to understand and process their patterns of relating to self and others as they happen in real-time during supervision. Using the alliance means the supervisor can help the supervisee explore their unconscious relational desires or needs and how these affect their clinical work and the supervisory relationship. When clinicians process their own internalized relational models, they can then understand those of their clients and how this resurfaces in the therapy room. Such supervision practices help supervisees develop consciousness of their emotional reactions and ultimately lead to better outcomes (Tishby & Wiseman).
I hope this article helps you understand the importance of the supervisory relationship. The supervisory relationship is the foundation of clinical supervision and, by extension, the future of the counseling profession.
If you seek to enhance your skills as a supervisor I invite you to consider subscribing to the Supervision section of this newsletter, as well as exploring the training and supervision opportunities offered by my practice, The Inner Canvas Collective.