Building trust: supervisees’ experience of power dynamics in transdisciplinary workplace supervision

ABSTRACT

The experience of power dynamics for five Irish supervisees attending transdisciplinary workplace supervision was explored through in-depth interviews and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three superordinate themes were identified: Struggling to find my place in the organisation; Navigating through vulnerability; and Clicking into relationship. The supervision relationship was a source of both vulnerability and empowerment for supervisees, and it took time to build trust and safety for greater openness. The team and organisational context, and perceived status differences in transdisciplinary supervision, impacted supervisees’ experience of vulnerability and power. This study illuminates the under-researched area of power dynamics within workplace supervision with qualified practitioners.

KEYWORDS:

• Power dynamics
• workplace supervision
• transdisciplinary supervision
• supervision relationship

Acknowledgments

With many thanks to Dr. Gillian O'Brien for her support of this research and to the participants who generously shared of their time and experience.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Darka Kovič

Darka Kovič holds a BA (Hons) degree in Education studies and a MSc. Psychotherapy. She is an integrative psychotherapist and has previously worked in a number of roles including developing adult literacy programs and as a school counsellor. At present she works in a private practice in Dublin, Ireland. Her interests are working with trauma related issues and clinical supervision.

Aisling McMahon

Aisling McMahon is a clinical psychologist, integrative psychotherapist and Assistant Professor in Dublin City University, Ireland, where she teaches on postgraduate psychotherapy and clinical supervision training programmes. With Peter Hawkins, Aisling is co-author of the 5^th ed. of Supervision in the Helping Professions. Her research interests are clinical supervision and practitioner development from training to retirement.