Playing in Clinical Supervision: Encouraging Emotional Honesty, Flexibility, and Resilience

Abstract

Concepts from the early literature on play therapy with childrenare related to recent innovative contributions to the training of psychotherapists in supervision. A review of some of the research evidence supporting the use of role play and storytelling in supervisionis presented. Then a particular method called Mimesis is highlighted that uses stories with universal mythological themes that are relevant to the development of psychotherapists. It is hypothesized that storytelling coupled with spontaneous role-play bring both supervisor and supervisee into a liminal space that can foster empathy and the attainment of psychotherapy skills.