Considerations in Supervision

Abstract

Group treatment has been deemed an effective modality of treatment when working with child sexual abuse survivors. Due to the consequences of such abuse and the emotional intensity of the group process, there becomes a critical need for supervisors to provide effective supervision for group leaders who run child sexual abuse survivor groups.

Based on interviews with group leaders and a clinical supervisor working in a short-term group modality with survivors, a model of supervision will be presented. The early, middle, and end points of the group process will be explicated, indicating various supervision issues and concerns that may arise during each point in the process, as well as issues that may surface throughout the process. Questions will be posed that supervisors may consider asking their supervisees in regard to issues such as transference, countertransference, and co-leadership, and a rationale will be presented for asking these various questions.

Key Words:

• Child sexual abuse
• supervision of group leaders
• group treatment
• short-term models