‘I wouldn't dream of ending with a client in the way he did to me’: An exploration of supervisees' experiences of an unplanned ending to the supervisory relationship

Abstract

AbstractAim: To explore supervisee experiences of unplanned endings to the supervisory relationship, a previously under-researched aspect of counselling and psychotherapy. Method: Interviews were conducted with five counsellors identified through purposive sampling; all had experienced an unplanned ending to at least one supervisory relationship. A semi-structured interview schedule was utilised for data collection and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was employed for data analysis. Findings: Eight emergent themes were identified within four domains: the ending; the existing supervisory relationship; the new supervisory relationship and the legacy of the supervisee experience as a trainee on the supervisory relationship. Boundary issues and power dynamics within the supervisory relationship featured in two domains. The importance of managing a good ending was highlighted and the impact of an abrupt ending was identified. Conclusion: Unplanned endings to the supervisory relationship can somet...