Nine postdoctoral-level experienced psychodynamic supervisors were interviewed about working with a supervisee on a case involving parallel process (PP) that started in therapy and was enacted in supervision. Consensual qualitative research was used to analyze transcripts of the interviews. The general pattern that emerged from the analysis of the supervisors' reports was that clients behaved unusually in session, therapists "got hooked" by this change, therapists enacted the client's behavior in supervision, supervisors "got hooked," supervisors reflected on their reactions and intervened in a different way; reported outcomes were mostly positive (e.g., enhanced growth or understanding for the therapist). Results of this qualitative investigation provide evidence of PP and clues as to how experienced supervisors observe, describe, and respond to PP in ways that promote growth, insight, and understanding for their supervisees.
Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: How do experienced psychodynamic supervisors identify and respond to parallel process (PP) in clinical supervision? Findings: We found evidence for an eight-step PP pattern that occurred across clients, therapists, and supervisors. Typically, a trigger set off the event, and generally, clients behaved unusually in session, therapists "got hooked" by this change and enacted the clients' behavior in supervision, supervisors "got hooked" and then reflected on their reactions and intervened, which led to positive and neutral outcomes. Meaning: Recognition of the steps can help supervisors and supervisees get unhooked from PP so that they can be more effective in supervision and psychotherapy. Next Steps: Results inform the development of better research questions about the emotional and behavioral patterns that flow up and down the supervisory triad.
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