Extrapolating Gelso’s tripartite model of the psychotherapy relationship to the psychotherapy supervision relationship: A potential common factors perspective.

Abstract

Consideration is given to how Gelso’s tripartite model of the psychotherapy relationship can be meaningfully extrapolated to the psychotherapy supervision relationship. Gelso’s 3 components of alliance, transference– countertransference configuration, and real relationship are examined for their relevance to the supervision relationship. The author contends that the 3 components have direct application to supervision relationships and, to varying degrees, can be viewed as being present across all supervisory relationships regardless of theoretical perspective. Therefore, this particular tripartite model of the supervision relationship is presented as providing a meaningful transtheoretical, integrative structure and language that can serve as a vital stimulus for advancing conceptual and empirical inquiry into psychotherapy supervisory phenomena. Foundational assumptions and definitions are proposed, and some measurement issues are also raised. The author argues for this 3-component view on supervision relationships as being a viable common factors perspective that warrants far more studied consideration.