‘A relational approach to supervision’: Some reflections on supervision from an existential-phenomenological perspective

This paper draws attention to the dearth of information on clinical supervision in the existential-phenomenological literature. It suggests that this should be of concern to existential trainers and practitioners since it seems indicative of a lack of the reflectiveness and clarity which are at the core of existential-phenomenological practice. The author proposes an experiential approach to this situation which utilizes some aspects of existential therapy to facilitate exploration of the concept of ‘supervision’ per se from an existential perspective. The author reminds us of the centrality of relationship in existential-phenomenological therapy, particularly in the form of healing encounter espoused by Buber and the equality of client and therapist engaged in an investigation of the difficulties in living which is proposed by Heidegger. In doing so, the author raises the possibility that an ‘attitude’ to, rather than a model for, existential-phenomenological supervision may emerge which takes relationship as its primary focus: he describes this as a ‘relational approach to supervision’

A relational approach to supervision’: Some reflections on supervision from an existential-phenomenological perspective

This paper draws attention to the dearth of information on clinical supervision in the existential-phenomenological literature. It suggests that this should be of concern to existential trainers and practitioners since it seems indicative of a lack of the reflectiveness and clarity which are at the core of existential-phenomenological practice. The author proposes an experiential approach to this situation which utilizes some aspects of existential therapy to facilitate exploration of the concept of ‘supervision’ per se from an existential perspective. The author reminds us of the centrality of relationship in existential-phenomenological therapy, particularly in the form of healing encounter espoused by Buber and the equality of client and therapist engaged in an investigation of the difficulties in living which is proposed by Heidegger. In doing so, the author raises the possibility that an ‘attitude’ to, rather than a model for, existential-phenomenological supervision may emerge which takes relationship as its primary focus: he describes this as a ‘relational approach to supervisionEste texto chama a atenção para a falta de informação sobre a supervisão clínica na bibliografia fenomenológica existencial. Sugere que esta deve ser motivo de preocupação para os formadores e profissionais visto que parece indicativo de falta de reflexão e clareza que estão no centro da prática fenomenológica existencial. O autor propõe uma abordagem baseada na experiência a esta situação, que utiliza alguns aspectos da terapia existencial para facilitar a exploração do conceito de supervisão per se numa perspectiva existencial. O autor relembra-nos da centralidade da relação na terapia fenomenológica existencial, particularmente na forma de sarar confrontos defendidos por Buber e a igualdade do cliente e terapeuta envolvidos numa investigação das dificuldades em viver que é proposta por Heidegger. Ao proceder assim, o autor suscita a possibilidade que uma ‘atitude em relação à supervisão fenomenológica existencial mais do que um modelo pode emergir que toma a relação como o seu principal enfoque: descreve isto como uma abordagem relacionada com a supervisão”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Therapists Have a lot to Add to the Field of Research, but Many Don’t Make it There: A Narrative Thematic Inquiry into Counsellors’ and Psychotherapists’ Embodied Engagement with Research

Research frequently addresses a gap between practice and research in the field of psychotherapy. Castonguay et al (2010) suggest that the practice of many full-time psychotherapists is rarely or nonsubstantially influenced by research. Boisvert and Faust (2005) ask ‘why do psychotherapists not rely on the research to consistently inform their practice?’ and suggest that concerns ‘have echoed through the decades’ about psychotherapists’ failings to integrate of research and practice. This study focuses on therapists’ (counsellors and psychotherapists) reasoning about their engagement with ‘research’ as described in dissertations and in personal, anonymously presented documents, research journals and interviews included. The study focuses on the stages which generally are referred to as ‘data analysis’, which in this study refers research stages where interpretation typically is required with synthesising and analysing in mind. Turning our attention to the therapists’ ‘narrative knowing’ about research during these stages where generating own new knowledge is put to the forefront, have highlighted a complex relationship involving epistemological discrepancies, real or imagined, between practice and research. It also highlighted gender issues, culture and commonly held constructs about what constitutes a ‘counsellor’, which we believe influence therapists’ presence in research. We decided to include the citation “Therapists have a lot to add to the field of research, but many don’t make it there” in the title to illustrate some of the complexity. The study is based on a Professional Doctorate programme, which engages with psychologists, counsellors and psychotherapists in practice-based research. In addition to drawing from dissertations already in the public domain students and graduates from the doctoral programme were invited to contribute their own embodied experiences from ‘doing’ a data analysis. The paper suggests a hybrid for narrative analysis, discussing the options to (re-)present narratives guided by a combined interest into the unique, personal whilst also looking for ‘themes’ within and across these narratives