Working in the grey zone: the challenge for supervision in the area between therapy and social control

Abstract

This chapter addresses systemic ways of analysing and supervising cases in the area between therapy and social control—an area. It outlines the main issues for supervisees working in the grey zone: evaluation and examination; therapy and consultation; social control; trust and belief; expertise and special knowledge; and acknowledgement and respect. While most of these issues are important in any supervisory relationship, they are all crucial for supervision in the grey zone. Supervising cases in the grey zone requires that they are analysed and understood in the social and cultural contexts within which they exist. In working with psychosocial problems, one will often find a so-called utopia of wisdom; this idea is based on the assumption that if one is skilled enough and well-qualified enough to describe, analyse, and evaluate, doubt will disappear. The political aspects and the trends in the social welfare system should be addressed and challenged in order to clarify the situation and the possibilities.