Lost in the crucible of supportive clinical supervision: supervision is not therapy

Abstract

Clinical supervision as a mechanism that supports both professional and personal development is a concept that has captured the imagination of nurses. Though nurses generally agree that 'supervision is not therapy', a clear distinction cannot be enunciated between these two processes when both aim at personal growth. In combining personal and professional growth, the rationale for clinical supervision is unnecessarily confused, with the unfortunate result that supervision may, unwittingly, become a form of therapy for nurses. This paper examines a model of supportive clinical supervision qua Chambers and Long's example of a facilitative therapeutic supervisory style, that reflects nurses' conceptualization of clinical supervision as enhancing personal and professional growth. However, it could be argued that this stance is in crucial respects incorrect, and needs to be rethought if clinical supervision is to be established as credible in nursing. Subsequently, it is important to remember that the utilization of certain techniques rather than their stated goals, will dictate the form that supervision, or therapy, will take. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the logical unacceptability in combining two processes as one, while developing a conceptual framework that differentiates supervision from therapy.

The Cultural Realities of Clinical Supervision in an Acute Inpatient Mental Health Setting

“…If it is viewed by nurses as either a tool for management scrutiny or the provision of mandatory counselling, nurses are unlikely to embrace its implementation (Malin, 2000). Moreover, Yegdich (1999) suggests that to prevent nurses unknowingly engaging in therapy during supervision, differences between personal and professional growth should be clearly enunciated. Findings from this study suggest that a culture already exists amongst mental health nurses that conveys many of the benefits ascribed to clinical supervision indicating that CS is unlikely to become a reality for nurses until its purpose and benefits are more clearly defined.…”

“…Cleary and A. Freeman Burns, 1998;Devine & Baxter, 1995;Sloan, 1999;Yegdich, 1998Yegdich, , 1999Yegdich & Cushing, 1998). Clinical supervision is a well-recognised component of psychiatry, social work, and psychology and its applicability to nursing has gained increased interest in recent years.…”

Rhetorical organizations of defense in primary care

“…It is within the context of such social interactions that the rhetorical claims presented above can be revealed. The higher the level of anxiety experienced, the more defense mechanisms are employed to help maintain a sense of self (Yegdich, 1999). The higher the level of anxiety experienced, the more defense mechanisms are employed to help maintain a sense of self (Yegdich, 1999).…”

Clinical supervision: what do we know and what do we need to know? A review and commentary

“…Although by and large not reflected in research studies, Yegdich (1999b) described how nurses may prefer to discuss professional development and other topics in supervision, avoiding talking about patient care, perhaps as a means of warding‐off feelings of anxiety concerned with clinical work. As in many professional encounters, some unease is likely to be a natural feature of supervision.…”