“Being affected by the other”: psychodynamic supervisors’ experiences of supervisory countertransference

Abstract

This qualitative study investigated how psychodynamically-oriented supervisors experienced supervisory countertransference towards their supervisees and their understandings of this phenomenon. Seven supervisors located in the United Kingdom (UK) were recruited. Individual audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews were used to gather the participants’ subjective accounts of this phenomenon. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Most of the participants described experiencing supervisory countertransference towards supervisees who were not of the same gender as them. Although definitions of supervisory countertransference have linked this phenomenon to unresolved supervisor issues and blind spots, only one supervisor specifically referred to past experiences that shaped her supervisory countertransference response. Notably, some of the supervisors continued to be affected by their experiences many years after the supervision ended. The study’s findings underscored the importance of attending to and processing perturbing supervisory countertransference. Future research could explore the ways in which supervisory countertransference is shaped by gender dynamics and its contribution to supervisory discord.

Keywords:

• Supervisory countertransference
• supervision
• Interpretative phenomenological analysis

Disclosure statement

A version of this paper was presented at the British Psychological Society, Division of Counselling Psychology Annual Conference held in Brighton, England, in July 2016. This study formed part of the first author’s doctoral research.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially funded by the Strategic Educational Pathways Scholarship (Malta). The scholarship was part-financed by the European Union–European Social Fund (ESF) under Operational Programme II–Cohesion Policy 2007–2013, “Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life.”

Notes on contributors

Marta Sant

Marta Sant is UK-trained counselling psychologist. She is a Resident Academic in Counselling Psychology at the University of Malta, where she coordinates the Masters in Counselling Psychology. Her research interests include clinical supervision, older adulthood, textile-based crafts and well-being. She also runs a small private practice where she works with adult clients.

Martin Milton

Martin Milton CPsychol, FBPsS, UKCP Reg, is Professor of Counselling Psychology and Psychology at Regents University London. He also runs an independent practice in psychotherapy and supervision.