The Generic Model of Psychotherapy Supervision: An Analogized Research-Informing Meta-Theory

Might the generic model of psychotherapy (Orlinsky & Howard, 1985, 1987) be profitably analogized to supervision? Might we propose a generic model of psychotherapy supervision that provides a valuable framework for (a) trans-theoretically conceptualizing the commonly practiced supervision process essentials, (b) organizing the ever-evolving body of supervision research findings, (c) generating researchable supervision hypotheses, and (d) further stimulating supervision research study? I take up those questions subsequently. While the generic model has proven a valuable psychotherapy framework for over three decades now, we lack for an analogous supervision framework. Building on Orlinsky and Howard's seminal formulations (Orlinsky, 2009; Orlinsky & Howard, 1985, 1986, 1987), I propose a generic model of psychotherapy supervision that accentuates the systemic interplay of input, process, and output variables. Those intersecting sets of variables are identified and described, with particular attention being given to the six inextricably intertwined facets of process: Supervision contract, supervision operations, supervision bond, supervisee and supervisor self-relatedness, in-session impacts, and temporal patterns. Like psychotherapy, psychotherapy supervision involves the organizational, technical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, educational, and sequential; it could seemingly benefit from an organizing metamodel that integrates those six process facets, their contributing determinants (inputs), and potential outcomes (outputs). As supervision research further accumulates and evolves, perhaps this analogized generic model might be useful in providing one such integrative framework for advancing our understanding of supervision research and its potential implications. El modelo genérico de la supervisión de la psicoterapia: una metateoría informada de investigación análoga ¿Podría el modelo genérico de psicoterapia (Orlinsky y Howard, 1985, 1987) ser analizado de manera rentable a la supervisión? Podríamos proponer un modelo genérico de supervisión de la psicoterapia que proporcione un marco valioso para (a) conceptualizar trans-teóricamente los elementos esenciales del proceso de supervisión comúnmente practicados, (b) organizar el cuerpo en constante evolución de los resultados de la investigación de supervisión, (c) generar hipótesis de supervisión investigables y (d) estudio de investigación de supervisión estimulante adicional? Retomo esas preguntas poste