Art Therapy Supervision

Abstract

This three-part article addresses specific phases of art therapy supervision: beginning, middle and termination. The authors (Wilson, Riley and Wadeson) identify special skills needed to successfully supervise graduate art therapy interns. They emphasize the integration of theory and art expression, the effective use of the art therapy or psychotherapy modalities and the supervisory relationship. The authors suggest that the articles be read as three brief chapters in a manual focused on art therapy supervision.Each of the authors is an art psychotherapist or an art therapist/educator, who guides master's level art therapy students in practicum experiences. An art therapy internship is arranged by each university and clinical supervisors meet a level of professionalism that is set by the graduate program.In addition, each author has administrative duties, teaching obligations and extensive clinical experience. This combination of skills provides the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary for the successful selection, continuing support and education of good supervisors.To supervise graduate master's level-students, the American Art Therapy Association recommends that the art therapist/supervisor be Registered. The authors agree that in addition to registration, the supervisor should have additional training in the special skills of supervision.The initial motivation for exploring these issues of supervision was stimulated by the interest expressed by educators, supervisors, and supervisees at recent conferences of the American Art Therapy Association (Riley, 1982, 1983 and 1984). Panel discussions were offered and participants became aware that very little material was available to guide the art therapy supervisor. This three-part article is the result of the authors' collaborations and continuing interest in providing some guidelines to answer this need.In these writings, supervision is referred to in the context of a relationship between an experienced art therapy supervisor and a graduate art therapy student/intern who is training as a therapist in an approved practicum setting. This supervision process requires at least one hour per week, over a prescribed time; it is usually an individual session, but it also can be supplemented by small group supervision.Additional information is available in the guidelines for master's level programs published by the American Art Therapy Association.