Gender-related events in psychotherapy supervision: Female trainee perspectives

Abstract

A gender-related event is an interaction, process, or event in psychotherapy supervision that the trainee felt was directly or indirectly related to, or influenced by: (a) the trainee's sex or the client's sex, (b) the social construction of gender, or (c) stereotypes and assumptions of gender roles. Gender-related events were studied for 111 female trainees. Approximately half (48%) of the reported events were considered supportive. The two most frequently reported supportive gender-related events were when supervisors discussed an academic conceptualization of a client integrating gender, or processed gender-related transference and countertransference issues with their trainees. The most common non-supportive gender-related events included those where supervisors made comments based on stereotypes of the trainee or when supervisors dismissed a gender-related conversation initiated by the trainee. Content and frequency of supportive and non-supportive gender-related events were significantly related to the supervisory alliance as well as the frequency of trainee self-disclosure.

Keywords:

• Gender
• supervision