Paper title: REFLECTIONS ON SUPERVISION IN INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY

Authors: ERSKINE Richard G.– Training Director, Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy; Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, Deusto University, Bilbao, Spain

Email: info@IntegrativeTherapy.com

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 5, year 2023, p. 7-20, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2023.5.1 

Abstract. Psychotherapy supervision is a distinct professional practice that adapts the style and content of the supervision to the supervisee’s phase of development. This article describes various phases of psychotherapy supervision. In the Skill Development phase, the initial focus is on the trainee’s acquiring of information and techniques, as well as developing an ethical perspective; the Confidence Building phase focus is on the well-being of the supervisee; the Thinking Theoretically and Skill Refinement phase focuses on the supervisee exploring a variety of psychotherapy options; and, the Multi-theoretical phase emphasizes integrating various theoretical perspectives. The advantages and disadvantages of addressing countertransference and possibly providing some psychotherapy for the supervisee are discussed. The article concludes with eight guiding principles that are central in every phase of supervision.

Key words: supervision, integrative psychotherapy, guiding principles, countertransference, theoretical integration, skill development, ethics.

 

Paper title: APPLYING THE PYRAMID OF SUPERVISION TO CONCEPTS OF RELATIONALLY-FOCUSED INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY

Authors: VÎŞCU Loredana-Ileana – European Association of Integrative Psychotherapy (EAIP); The Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision (IPCS); “Tibiscus” University of Timisoara, Romania, Email: loredana.viscu@gmail.com.

WATKINS Jr. C. Edward – Professor of Psychology, University of North Texas, and Trainer, Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision, Email: watkinsc@unt.edu.

ERSKINE Richard G.– Training Director, Institute for Integrative Psychotherapy; Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Health Science, Deusto University, Bilbao, Spain, Email: info@IntegrativeTherapy.com

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 5, year 2023, p. 21-33, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2023.5.2 

Abstract. The Supervision Pyramid provides an effective supervision tool that attends to the supervisee, the client, and the supervisor. It is divided into four levels: identifying the problem; exploring and elaborating on what is learned; experimentation and consolidation; and solving the problem with the goal of the supervisee’s increased capacity to identify solutions and to embrace professional challenges. This article proposes that the core factors of psychotherapy supervision are accomplished through the incorporation of Erskine’s “Keyhole Model”, which spotlights the significance of eight relational needs; the importance of the psychotherapist’s inquiry, attunement, and involvement; the effective use of acknowledgement, validation, normalization and presence; as well as a necessary sensitivity to the client’s nascent affects, rhythm, style of cognition, and level of development.

Key words: psychotherapy supervision, Supervision Pyramid, relational psychotherapy, Integrative Psychotherapy, relational needs, attunement, presence.

 

Paper title: SUPERVISION AS A SPACE OF CREATIVE FREEDOM –CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE

Authors: BÖHM Angelika – Austrian Association for Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy (OeAGP), International Society for Gestalt Theory and its Applications (GTA)

Email: angelika.boehm@oeagp.at

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 5, year 2023, p. 35-45, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2023.5.3 

Abstract. The concept of Creative Freedom was passed on by Gestalt psychology, where it still serves as the basis for a scientific approach to clarifying the conditions for creative processes in human beings. It is not essentially about promoting, forming, or even training any abilities, but about supporting, and providing conditions under which such abilities can unfold in living processes, as they are given in psychotherapy and supervision. In this article this concept will be explained in more detail, its conditions will be described and for the first time applied to the special situation of supervision. A close examination of the application of this concept to the field of supervision has shown that its implementation can be quite fruitful.

Key words: supervision, Gestalt psychology, creative freedom, self-organization, Gestalt Theoretical Psychotherapy.

 

Paper title: REVISITING COMPETENCE IN CLINICAL SUPERVISION

Authors: FALENDER Carol A. – Graduate School of Education and Psychology, USA, Email: cfalender@gmail.com

SHAFRANSKE Edward P.– Graduate School of Education and Psychology, USA, Email: eshafran@pepperdine.edu

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 5, year 2023, p. 47-58, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2023.5.4 

Abstract. Competency-based approaches have been advocated in psychology graduate education and clinical training for over two decades, paralleling developments in medicine and other health professions. The competencies movement aimed at bringing greater accountability to the healthcare professions and to provide society with competent health service providers. Competency-based approaches to clinical supervision, including competency-based clinical supervision [1], [2] were developed to ensure the well-being of clients, facilitate the development of clinical competence, and protect the public. Although more than 6000 articles and books were published on clinical supervision from 2003-2021, relatively few explicitly focus on competence or competency-based approaches. And in practice, it appears that broad-based and systematic implementation of competency-based approaches has not been accomplished. The authors suggest that the failure to implement competency-based clinical supervision has significant consequences on mental health services. Effective, evidence-based services are critically needed given the increasing mental health acuity. The provision of evidence-based treatments requires the ’training-up’ of clinicians to establish competence in evidence-informed psychotherapy and psychosocial interventions. Developing competence would be best achieved through the use of competency-based approaches to training and clinical supervision. Barriers to implementation are discussed and a renewed call for implementation, including increased empirical research, is made.

Key words: Clinical supervision, competency-based clinical supervision, clinical training, psychotherapy supervision, competency-based education, CBE

 

Paper title: CROSS-CULTURAL SUPERVISION: CLINICAL SUPERVISORS’ PERCEPTION OF WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Authors: JIN Ling – Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, Email: ling.jin1@ucalgary.ca

WANG Chiachih DC – Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

WATKINS Jr. Clifton Edward – Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA

ZAMUDIOA Gabriel – Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 5, year 2023, p. 59-74, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2023.5.5 

Abstract. Supervision theories or models have traditionally not been centered on cross-cultural supervision (e.g., American clinical supervisors working with international trainees). To this end, this qualitative study sought to explore cross-cultural supervision from the perspective of clinical supervisors. A total number of 10 supervisors participated in the current study. Three themes emerged from the supervisors’ data: (1) systemic issues, acculturation, and power differential; (2) reciprocal learning and supervisory relationship; and (3) effective supervision strategies. Findings may help advance clinical supervision with international students, enable mental health professionals and training programs better understand the cross-cultural supervision process with international trainees.

Key words: cross-cultural supervision, clinical supervisors, international students, qualitative, multicultural, power differential

 

Paper title: CHOOSING SUPERVISORS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY TRAINING

Authors: VÎŞCU Loredana-Ileana – European Association of Integrative Psychotherapy (EAIP); The Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision (IPCS); “Tibiscus” University of Timisoara, Romania, Email: loredana.viscu@gmail.com

CĂDARIU Ioana-Eva – European Association of Integrative Psychotherapy (EAIP); The Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision (IPCS); “Tibiscus” University of Timisoara, Romania, Email: cadariuioanaeva@yahoo.com

WATKINS Jr. C. Edward – Professor of Psychology, University of North Texas, and Trainer, Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision, Email: watkinsc@unt.edu

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 5, year 2023, p. 75-91, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2023.5.6 

Abstract. This study started from the observation that after completing training in a therapeutic orientation, some trainees turn to other supervisors, with a background in other therapeutic orientation and registered with other training providers. The supervisee has the right to choose the supervisor, and the supervisor has the right to accept or not to sign the supervision contract, but without discrimination based on gender, race, religion, etc. However, on the market of psychotherapy training programs, one can observe situations when future supervisees look for a supervisor from another training school/ institutions, not wanting to continue supervision within the same institution, where they trained to become psychotherapists. Thus, the interest turns towards finding out what are the reasons standing at the basis of these situations in Romania. Another interest turns towards identifying what possibilities has training provider at hand to increase the quality of its training programs.

Key words: supervisor, supervisee, learning style, supervisees’ needs

 

Paper title: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE REGARDING PSYCHOTHERAPY FROM THE NOOGENIC NEUROSES TOWARDS A MORE GENERALISED SOCIOGENIC PSYCHOSIS

Authors: GOZO Zeno – Department of Psychology, University Tibiscus Timisoara, Romania

Emails: zeno.gozo@yahoo.com

International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 5, year 2023, p. 93-107, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2023.5.7 

Abstract. We are living in hard and complicated times – unfortunately nobody knows any more what is good and what is bad. Big problems are already looming upon us: AI, global warming, population ageing and chronic inflation, distrust in government, pandemic and so on. In such problematic times, psychologists and psychotherapists, psychiatrists as well – the new “soul-gurus” of our age – should be the first to interrogate themselves about how we can encounter the plethora of issues the new millennium has on offer. As such, what this paper is trying to show, is that psychology can be in the first line of a more general anthropological perspective to understand our existential struggle. Instead of always looking to others, i.e. our clients, we should firstly analyse our own life, our options and beliefs system, our existential philosophy, and the general direction of our actions. After that, and only after that exceptional and unusual turn-around, should we see if there is any place or time or enthusiasm left for therapy and psychological care for others. In other words, we should not forget the old saying: “medice, cura te ipsum!”, and start with that centripetal ego-centeredness and not the other way around. Focusing on one’s own issues, family problems, social or professional developments is to see if everything is in its right place. Only after that should we go out to the world and cure, or help to cure the problems of our fellow citizens. By doing that unconventional psychological and unusual anthropological reconveying under the strict observance of “self-Supervision” and “multiple-self InterVision”, psychologists and therapists will have at least a solid nuclear self and, additionally, an incontrovertible starting point in life. A starting point not diluted, or neglected, or permanently postponed by the luring others (clients for instance), with their endless difficulties, complicated issues or inexhaustible problems, constantly and relentlessly exerted on us?

Key words: existential, anthropological, social pressure, psychological, psychotherapy