What Is Effective Supervision? A National Survey of Supervision Experts

Previous research regarding the supervision of psychotherapists has been primarily based on the perceptions of supervisors and supervisees at various levels of experience. This national survey examines the attitudes and beliefs of experts in the field of supervision concerning what constitutes effective supervision. A number of themes and recommendations were noted in the survey including an emphasis on the supervisory relationship, a commitment to supervision, and the adoption of a supervisory stance. The results point to the need for clearly articulated tasks and procedures; attention to developmental levels; accepting responsibility for evaluation and feedback; and developing a clear notion of desired outcomes. The opinions expressed in the survey describe the goal of effective supervision to be the development of a facilitative supervisory relationship characterized by empathy; warmth; trust; mutual respect; and flexibility. Appendix includes a copy of the survey. (Contains 4 tables and 61 references.) (JDM)