Educational psychologists’ experience of taking part in group supervision: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Aim:The aim of this study was to explore the experience of educational psychologists (EPs) undertaking group supervision.Rationale:Against a rapidly changing educational and political landscape, the authors anticipated that group supervision across the children’s workforce would become an area of rapid growth.Method:Eight practising EPs, experienced in participating in group supervision were interviewed. A qualitative design was adopted using semi-structured interviews as the research method and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as the research methodology.Findings:This study found that the experience of EPs in group supervision could be described as a multilayered phenomenon where the PURPOSE and PROCESS of group supervision and the PERSONAL NEEDS met by group supervision (the three P’s of group supervision), interacted simultaneously. The theoretical transferability rather than generalisability of the findings was discussed in relation to understanding the experience of educational psychologists taking part in group supervision. Implications of the findings in relation Educational Psychology Services are offered.