Systemic supervision practices compared: A closer look at ‘reflection’ and ‘self’ in Multisystemic Therapy and Family Therapy supervision

Abstract

Family and systemic therapists are becoming increasingly interested in evidence-based practice. By implication, clinical supervision practices that support therapists need to keep step with this trend. Supervision practices within Multisystemic Therapy as a more outcome-focussed treatment model that works with families are compared with the supervision of family therapists working a mental health clinic. This paper looks at some of the more prominent supervisory practices in MST and Family Therapy and explores their similarities and differences. The various challenges that are present when working in clients' homes are explored and implications for supervision discussed. Therapists who frequent clients' homes may need a different skill-set and their supervisors in turn require taking a different approach. The clinical supervisor to a therapist working out in the community tends to (be able to) be more proactive. Systemic supervisors to more clinical based family therapist put emphasis on the explorative aspects of the therapeutic encounter including self-reflective practices, whereas MST supervisors' primary focus remains on the clinical outcomes for the clients. The place of self-reflexivity in both approaches to supervision is explored. Case examples drawn from the authors' own supervisory practice will be presented to illustrate the different practices presented.