Putting on the face: A qualitative study of power dynamics in clinical supervision. Issue 2 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Stefano, Jack; Hutman, Heidi; Gazzola, Nicola
• Is Part Of: Clinical supervisor. Volume 36:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Clinical supervision -- power in supervision -- counselor development; Mental health personnel -- Supervision of -- Periodicals; Psychotherapists -- Supervision of -- Periodicals; Mental health personnel -- Training of -- Periodicals; Psychotherapists -- Training of -- Periodicals; 616.8900683
• DOI: 10.1080/07325223.2017.1295893
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0732-5223

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Nine master's-level counselors (recently graduated) were interviewed about their experiences with power in clinical supervision. Using the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method (Hill, Thompson, & Nutt Williams, 1997), the authors derived five general categories: power resides in the supervisor's expertise, supervisor error erodes his or her power, misuse of power elicits self-preservation, supervisor demonstrating trust in the supervisee's abilities empowers the supervisee, and supervisor transparency reduces power. Power dynamics appeared to be most salient in situations where the supervisee experienced a negative supervisory event. Implications for training and research are discussed.