‘The Golden Question’. Addressing supervisee self‐care in clinical supervision

Abstract

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to explore how supervisee self‐care is, or is not, addressed in the clinical supervision of counsellors and psychotherapists. The aims of the study were as follows: (1) to analyse the process and dialogue used to address supervisee self‐care in clinical supervision; (2) to explore supervisee and supervisor experiences and understanding of how self‐care is addressed in clinical supervision; and (3) to investigate how addressing supervisee self‐care can be enhanced or maintained and how this can be implemented into training and practice.MethodFour established supervision dyads with experienced practitioners took part. Twelve supervision sessions were analysed using a discursive psychology approach to discourse analysis. Participants were then interviewed; the data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.ResultsThe findings from the discourse analysis demonstrate how discourse can enhance or limit addressing self‐care. The findings from the analysis of the supervisor interviews resulted in the following superordinate themes: ‘I am here’, ‘Where are you?’ and ‘We're the instruments’. The findings from the supervisee interviews resulted in two superordinate themes: ‘Me, myself and I' and ‘You and I'.ConclusionsThere is an interplay between the experience of the supervisor and supervisee and the dialogue used to address self‐care in clinical supervision. The implications for practice and training are discussed via ‘The Golden Question’ that encapsulates the findings.