Rupture and rupture repair in clinical supervision: some thoughts and steps along the way

ABSTRACT

Ruptures have long been an issue of concern in the supervision literature: They have the potential to compromise, if not derail and destroy, the entirety of the supervision relationship. Two basic steps – opening up discussion about and collaboratively processing the rupture – have been identified as central to increasing the likelihood of successful repair. But beyond those two basic steps, what other steps might be involved in the rupture/repair process? Are there more specifics that can be offered about what happens in the rupture repair experience between supervisor and supervisee? Those questions are considered subsequently. I specifically (a) examine how the variables of frequency and severity potentially affect any rupture’s impact and repair possibilities, (b) identify withdrawal and confrontation markers of supervision rupture, along with supervisor rupture repair strategies, and (c) identify and describe a proposed six-step process, built upon a prerequisite pre-cognitive set of humility, by which rupture repair is facilitated.

KEYWORDS:

• Supervision
• rupture
• repair
• conflict
• humility

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Correction Statement

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

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C. Edward Watkins

C. Edward Watkins, Jr., Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at the University of North Texas. He also is a trainer/supervisor at the Institute of Psychotherapy, Psychological Counselling and Clinical Supervision, headquartered in Reșița, Romania. His primary professional interests focus on psychotherapy supervision and integrative and psychoanalytic theories, practice, and research. He is editor of the Handbook of Psychotherapy Supervision (1997), co-editor (with Derek Milne) of the Wiley International Handbook of Clinical Supervision (2014), and coauthor (with Loredana-Ileana Vişcu) of the book, A Guide to Clinical Supervision: The Supervision Pyramid (2021), which highlights Dr. Vişcu’s supervision work in Romania. He is a Fellow of Divisions 29 (Psychotherapy) and 17 (Counseling Psychology) of the American Psychological Association.