| The goal of this study was to explore the qualitative experience of the new supervisor. A phenomenological methodology was utilized in order to begin to identify those issues and themes considered salient to the experience of the new supervisor. Subjects were five female and three male psychologists with two and one-half years' or less experience as supervisors. All subjects had met with at least one supervisee for a minimum of six months' duration, providing psychotherapy supervision. Subjects were interviewed for approximately one and one-half hours following a semi-structured format. A detailed summary of each subject's interview is presented in the Results section. The Discussion presents those themes and issues described by the subjects as salient to their experience as new supervisors, as well as the relation between these themes and issues and the current literature. Topics covered include: (1) subjects' reasons for choosing to become a supervisor, including the idea that assuming this position is a "rite of passage" in one's career; (2) hopes, expectations, and fears that subjects had prior to becoming a supervisor, and how these were managed; (3) the impact that subjects' experiences as supervisors had upon how they hoped to, and subsequently did, function as supervisors; (4) subjects' experience of the supervisor's position as "one step removed" from the therapy relationship, and ways in which they managed this more distant position; (5) the boundaries of the supervisory relationship and the extent to which they differ from those of other professional relationships; and (6) the various new roles and functions that subjects experienced as new supervisors. Recommendations for future research, training, and practice in the area of clinical supervision are offered. |
