IJSP Number 7, 2025
1. Paper title: THE CONTEXTUAL SUPERVISION RELATIONSHIP MODEL: GENESIS, EVOLUTION, REVISION, 2015-2025
Authors:
WATKINS Jr. C. Edward – Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas; Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision, Reșița, Romania
CĂDARIU Ioana-Eva – Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision, Reșița, Romania; Department of Psychology, Tibiscus University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
VÎŞCU Loredana-Ileana – Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision, Reșița, Romania; Department of Psychology, Tibiscus University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
Emails: watkinsc@unt.edu, cadariuioanaeva@yahoo.com, loredana.viscu@gmail.com
International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 7, year 2025, p. 7-22, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2025.7.1
Abstract: We consider three questions in this paper: How does psychotherapy supervision work? Why does it work? and What are the critical ingredients that contribute to that process of ‘working’?. In providing answer to those questions, we elaborate upon the Contextual Supervision Relationship Model (CSRM) — one vision that proposes a coherent trans-theoretical structure by which the supervision relationship evolves and instigates supervisee development. The need for such a trans-theoretical structure is presented, and the CSRM components and connections are described. The development of the model is considered, changes made to the model during the past decade are identified, and some new CSRM revisions circa 2025 are proposed.
Key words: Contextual Supervision Relationship Model, alliance, real relationship, expectations, supervisee outcomes
2. Paper title: PSYCHOTHERAPY SUPERVISION IN SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE: WHAT CAN A BIBLIOMETRIC LENS REVEAL?
Authors:
Dana RAD – Center of Research Development and Innovation in Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences Psychology and Social Sciences, Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, 310130 Arad, Romania
Florentina-Anica PINTEA – Faculty of Computer and Applied Informatics, “Tibiscus” University of Timisoara, Romania / Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision, Reșița, Romania
Emails: dana@xhouse.ro, florentina.pintea@tibiscus.ro
International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 7, year 2024, p. 23-48, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2025.7.2
Abstract: Therapeutic efficacy, competency development, and professional development all depend on psychotherapy supervision in great measure. Using data from the Web of Science Core Collection, this work investigates the co-occurrence of keywords in the scientific literature on psychotherapy supervision using bibliometric analysis. Analyzed were386 papers in total, finding 937 distinct keywords of which 139 satisfied the minimal co-occurrence criterion of three. We produced network and overlay visualizations to map theme structures and changing research trends using VOSviewer. Key groupings discovered by the study included competency, therapeutic partnerships, nondisclosure, and multicultural issues in supervision underlining competence and supervision paradigms. Results show a growing emphasis on evidence-based supervision, professional development, and the part that disclosure dynamics and culture play in supervising relationships. The results offer a methodical summary of study paths and draw attention to important topics for further psychotherapy supervision investigation.
Key words: Bibliometric analysis, psychotherapy supervision, keyword co-occurrence, professional development, supervision models, therapeutic alliance, evidence-based supervision
3. Paper title: SUPERVISION FROM MURRAY BOWEN’S THEORY PERSPECTIVESIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN SUPERVISION AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
Author:
Zeno GOZO – Department of Psychology, “Tibiscus” University of Timisoara
Email: zenogozo@yahoo.com
International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 7, year 2025, p. 49-66, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2025.7.3
Abstract: In my professional carrier, I had multiple occasions to talk, to comment and debate or to write about Murray Bowen’s theory. Speaking from such a background, I think that there still are some ideas and concepts to be developed starting from such a profound and far-reaching theory. In the followings, we will try to extract some ethical ideas and probably a few anthropological perspectives (dimensions so vital in therapeutic practice as well as in supervision), which can be enhanced morally in order to fit to everyone’s wish to make at least a few small steps towards one’s own development. If for the sake of comparison, we would take Bowen’s theory as a paradigmatic scaffolding, it is more than clear that we will build another conceptual construct than he did, one that will be at least slightly different (a different differentiation …). As such, we will use elements of Bowen’s theory as ‘bricks’, or components in order to build another edifice, one that goes beyond the purely therapeutic aspects (the one that medical doctors, therapists, psychologists or psychiatrists usually enhance). Nevertheless, we have to say it from the beginning, as a preliminary precaution and maybe as a warning as well, that Murray Bowen and his theory are not and cannot be every man’s cup of tea. Consequently, we will use the same note of warning Michael Kerr mentioned in his introduction to Bowen’s theory: “A note of caution as you embark on reading this book: Bowen theory can be dangerous to your psychological and emotional equilibrium.” [1] Psychotherapy is about change and as such aspects of differentiation occur as the core item to do it. As such, the differentiation of the self is just another expression for self-development which, of course, can be a dangerous to an emotional equilibrium … but how else could we evolve?
Key words: solid self, pseudo-self, Ego, persona, differentiation, supervision
4. Paper title: ADDRESSING THE VARIABILITY IN TRAINING QUALITY AND ADVANCING PSYCHOTHERAPIST DEVELOPMENT THROUGH COMPETENCY-BASED CLINICAL SUPERVISION
Author:
Edward P. SHAFRANSKE – Pepperdine University, University of California, CA, USA
Carol A. FALENDER – Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Email: cfalende@ucla.edu
International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 7, year 2025, p. 67-76, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2025.7.4
Abstract: Clinical supervision is the cornerstone of professional development in the mental health field (Falender & Shafranske, 2004, 2021). It is “a critical if not the most critical facet of the psychotherapy training endeavor” (Watkins, 1997, p. 9). Supervision ensures the quality of care and the welfare of clients, facilitates the trainee’s emerging clinical competence and professionalism, and safeguards the public and profession by serving as a gatekeeper (Shafranske & Falender, 2016). The supervisory relationship provides a context for developing clinical competence, enhancing self-awareness, supporting metacompetence, and establishing the supervisee’s emerging professional identity. In that regard, supervision has been found to have salutary effects on the supervisee (Knox & Hill, 2021). However, variability exists in the quality of supervision provided. Regretfully, inadequate and harmful supervision occurs, compromising the supervisory relationship and negatively impacting patient care as well as the supervisee’s professional development (Falender & Shafranske, 2021). In this article, we discuss the role of clinical supervision during the initial training phase and throughout the ongoing development of the psychotherapist. We emphasize the benefits of implementing a competency-based approach by highlighting essential principles. Also, we suggest that supervision quality contributes to either the supervisee’s experience of clinical work as a healthy involvement or may accentuate personal and professional stress and exacerbate difficulties in psychotherapy practice.
Key words: Clinical supervision, Professional development, Psychotherapy training, Professional identity
5. Paper title: REVIEW OF THE BOOK “MINDFULNESS AND COMPASSION IN INTEGRATIVE SUPERVISION” BY MAŠA ŽVELC AND GREGOR ŽVELC, ROUTLEDGE, 2024
Authors:
Robert CVETEK, Mateja CVETEK
Department for Psychology and Sociology of Religion, Faculty of Theology, University of Ljubljana / Slovenia, Slovenian Psychological Association, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Emails: robert.cvetek@teof.uni-lj.si, mateja.cvetek@teof.uni-lj.si
International Journal of Supervision in Psychotherapy, no. 7, year 2025, p. 77-80, DOI: 10.47409/ijsp.2025.7.5
A new scientific monograph by Slovenian authors Maša Žvelc and Gregor Žvelc, titled Mindfulness and Compassion in Integrative Supervision (2024, 252 pages), presents an original, integrative, transtheoretical, and holistic approach to psychotherapeutic supervision, with significant new scientific contributions and insights. Published by Routledge, this work is the result of extensive scientific research and the authors’ rich psychotherapeutic and supervisory experience. Having previously published important works on the integration of mindfulness and compassion into psychotherapy (Žvelc & Žvelc, 2021), the authors now offer their original perspectives on mindfulness and compassion in supervisory practice. This work can undoubtedly be seen as an important contribution to the field of psychology, psychotherapy, and supervision practice on a global level.