Affirmative Clinical Supervision.

Abstract

Affi rmative supervision is an important aspect in all supervisory relationships that encompasses the broad spectrum of individual and cultural diversities and should be present in all interactions with a supervisee; however, for lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) persons, that may not always be the case.Historically those approaches to psychology and therapeutic practice that have pathologised homosexuality have brought the same constrictions to supervision. In supervision literature homosexuality and bisexuality appeared only as evidence of the client's pathology and were treated as such. In most cases there was no question of the supervisor being lesbian, gay or bisexual because these were barred from training in many training institutions (O'Connor & Ryan 1993;Ellis 1994), and even if they did train they found diffi culty in advancement. (Pett, 2000, p. 54) Affi rmative supervision is an atheoretical framework that is intended to augment and to be used consistently with the supervisor's existing AFFIRMATIVE CLINICAL SUPERVISION

A Collaborative-Affirmative Approach to Supervisory Practice

“…This means one might hypothesize that those who receive affirmative and multicultural competent supervision reflect such practices in their therapy with LGB clients. Halpert, Reinhardt, and Toohey (2007) noted that "the cornerstone of an LGBTaffirmative approach to supervision is the belief that all gender identities and sexual orientations are equally valid" (p. 342). Clients are uniquely susceptible to therapist influences (Halpert & Pfaller, 2001) and therefore, in general, affirmative models of supervision work to ensure the protection and safety of LGB clients and affirm issues related to sexual orientation.…”

“…Finally, the Integrative Affirmative Model (Halpert et al, 2007) incorporates the most significant aspects of each of these affirmative models.…”

“…Regardless of how accepting a person might be of LGB persons, all supervisors, supervisees, and clients maintain some degree of homophobia and/or heterosexism by virtue of living in a homophobic society (Halpert et al, 2007).…”

“…However, the approach could be utilized with a supervisory triad that consists of a LGB supervisor and client and a heterosexual supervisee. Every supervisor, supervisee, and client have at least some degree of homophobia or heterosexism regardless of acceptance level and training (Halpert et al, 2007), thus making it possible for most supervisors and supervisees to incorporate this approach into their supervision provided the criteria laid out below is met.…”

“…LGBs and present little to no heterosexual bias (Long & Lindsey, 2004), although this is not possible according to Halpert et al (2007). In this case, it is possible that the supervisor may learn from their supervisee who is more knowledgeable about LGB relationships.…”