The association between political climate and trainees’ supervision experiences and needs

ABSTRACT

This study examined whether political climate influenced trainees’ clinical work, supervisory experiences, and supervisory alliance. Data were collected from 366 trainees in a nationwide survey. Most trainees believed that the political atmosphere has affected clients to some degree. Over half reported political dialogue with supervisors, more often when political affiliation was similar. Supervisory alliances were most positive when trainees were aware of their supervisors’ political beliefs, regardless of agreement. Trainees wanted supervisors to provide greater awareness of multicultural issues and political climate in their clinical work. We recommend that supervisors invite trainees to discuss political effects on their clinical work.

KEYWORDS:

• Supervision
• psychotherapy
• political events
• education and training

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Nili Solomonov was supported by NIMH grant [1K23MH123864-01].

Notes on contributors

Kevin S. McCarthy

Kevin S. McCarthy, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at Chestnut Hill College and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania where he trains and supervises doctoral psychologists and psychiatric residents. His interests are in psychotherapy process and outcome and the teaching of psychotherapy. He is Past President of the North American Society for Psychotherapy Research.

Carla Capone

Carla Capone, M.S., is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Chestnut Hill College. Her interests include borderline personality disorder, substance use, and severe mental illness. She has had practical experiences at a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) center for opioid dependence, a psychological assessment clinic, and most recently an urban college counseling center.

Jennifer Davidtz

Jennifer Davidtz, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University, where she is also the Director of Internship Training for the Psychology Services Center. She provides clinical supervision to doctoral students and interns and “supervision of supervision” to postdoctoral residents. Her interests include community psychology and social justice, clinical training and therapist development, and the treatment of serious mental illness, borderline personality disorder, and complex posttraumatic and dissociative conditions.

Nili Solomonov

Nili Solomonov, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine. She serves on the Steering Committee of the North American Society of Psychotherapy Research, advancing issues related to trainees’ engagement and support resources. She also supervises social workers and psychologists who provide psychotherapy in the community as well as psychotherapy clinical trials.