Resistance or Disconnection? A Relational-Cultural Approach to Supervisee Anxiety and Nondisclosure

Abstract

Supervisee anxiety and resistance have long presented counselor supervisors with a dilemma in supporting the professional growth and client care of their supervisees. With a more contemporary and cultural perspective, relational-cultural theory (RCT) offers a relational approach for reframing supervisee anxiety and resistance of counselors-in-training and enhancing supervisory collaboration. RCT upholds the centrality of relationships as the key to growth and well-being. Through an RCT lens, supervisee anxiety and nondisclosure represent disconnections that can be overcome with mutual empathy, relational authenticity, and mutual empowerment. Applications of these RCT building blocks to supervision are described and illustrate the importance of connection for mutual professional growth by supervisee and supervisor.

Keywords:

• supervision
• relational-cultural theory
• supervisee anxiety
• supervisee resistance
• relational competence
• connection
• creativity