An exploration of experienced supervisors' practice in multiple modes using reflexive thematic analysis

Abstract

Supervision is a compulsory, professional activity through which counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists and social workers develop their skills and competence, debrief and receive support for their work with clients. Intern psychologists are observed when conducting sessions with clients as part of their assessment and ongoing training and cannot become fully registered without supervision. Counsellors and psychotherapists receive supervision as part of their training and are required to undertake a minimum number of supervision hours annually to retain their professional registration. Social workers who are mental health accredited are required to have ongoing supervision. Supervision improves these practitioners' professionalism which benefits their clients. The available training to become a supervisor is focused on in-person supervision and does not routinely consider using different modes of practice such as videoconference or the phone for supervision sessions. This research proved particularly timely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many more practitioners had to receive supervision by videoconference or by phone, often without their supervisors having training or experience in these modes. Practitioners who work with vulnerable people may not be receiving the best possible professional support from their supervisors if the supervisors are working in some modes in which they have not been trained or are less competent. Using reflexive thematic analysis, this is the first research study in Australia to explore the use of multiple modes in the practices of experienced supervisors from different professions. It has implications for training supervisors and for providing the most effective and ethical support to practitioners, which will in turn benefit the practitioners' clients.

Date of Award	2022
Original language	English