Contemporary Approaches to the Supervision of Psychotherapy

ABSTRACT

The last two decades in the history of psychotherapy supervision are briefly described, placing the contributions in historical context. The issues raised by the authors are discussed, followed by an agenda for the development of psychotherapy supervision.

The first agenda item concerns the preeminence of the root metaphor of the relationship in developing a theory of psychotherapy supervision. Then the need for empiricll foundations is discussed in terms of measuring supervisee and supervisor performance, determining the nature of the supervisory process, and assessing whether the patient is better served by the psychotherapist who has been supervised. Finally, the advantages and problems with the certification of psychotherapy supervisors are considered.