Carol A Falender & Edward P Shafranske, Clinical Supervision: A Competency-Based Approach

This book examines supervised practice in the education and training of psychologists through the use of science-informed theory and practice. Clinical supervision in this context serves two essential functions: to ensure the integrity of clinical services provided to the client and to develop competence in the supervisee. This book defines supervision as:

“Supervision is a distinct professional activity in which education and training aimed at developing science-informed practice are facilitated through a collaborative interpersonal process. It involves observation, evaluation, feedback, the facilitation of supervisee self-assessment, and the acquisition of knowledge and skills by instruction, modeling, and mutual problem solving. In addition, by building on the recognition of the strengths and talents of the supervisee, supervision encourages self-efficacy.”

Chapter 2 highlights the qualities of good supervision. Some qualities of the ideal supervisor include empathy, respect, genuineness, concreteness, self-disclosure, self-knowledge, tolerance, and superior ability.  Chapter 5 suggests implementing the principles of the therapeutic alliance to the supervisory relationship: interdependence of relational and technical factors, flexible intervention, understanding ruptures in the therapeutic alliance are integral to understanding the patient’s representational world, and understanding the patient as diverse highlights the importance of the negotiation between patient and therapist about the tasks and goals of therapy.

Carol A Falender & Edward P Shafranske, Clinical Supervision: A Competency-based approach (Washington: American Psychological Association, 2004).