The ethical practice of group supervision: A national survey.

Abstract

Group supervision is widely used in clinical and counseling training sites but, until lately, has received minimal attention by researchers. Recent findings point to the possible benefits that process-oriented interventions may hold over a strictly task-focused style, yet this raises important ethical considerations. Currently, there is an insufficient body of research and literature addressing ethics in group supervision. Building on the template developed by K. S. Pope, B. G. Tabachnick, and P. Keith-Spiegel (1987, Ethics of practice: The beliefs and behaviors of psychologists as therapists, American Psychologist, Vol. 42, pp. 993-1006), 145 supervisees and 124 supervisors were surveyed on their beliefs and behaviors related to the ethical practice of group supervision. Results were organized around the themes of norms/structure, supervisee self-disclosure, client confidentiality, and multiple relationships. In most cases, there was remarkable consistency between the supervisors' and supervisees' responses, but in some important areas, the data yielded interesting contrasts. Similarly, for each of the samples, the likelihood that respondents engage in particular behaviors in group supervision typically matches their beliefs in the ethicality (or lack thereof) regarding those behaviors; but again, some discrepancies were present in these data. Implications for the field are discussed.

Contracting for group supervision.

“…As in individual supervision, contracting in group supervision might even be considered an ethical essential, as contracts mitigate confusion, clarify purpose, delineate roles, and explicate the process of supervisee evaluation. This brief article follows up on recommendations by Smith, Riva, and Erickson Cornish (2012) in developing a template for a group supervision contract that can be used in predoctoral psychology internships and postdoctoral fellowship training sites.…”

Existential Psychotherapy Supervision: The Supervisor’s Perspective

“…Guidance that informs practice is mostly absent from the literature, which raises ethical issues, among other problems (Smith et al, 2012). One way to ensure a well-planned, structured, and ethically protected group supervision is to implement the use of contracts.…”

Mindfulness and Free Association for Multicultural Competence: A Model for Clinical Group Supervision

“…While it is understandable why CITs are hesitant to self-disclose in supervision, revealing one's struggles, professional missteps, and interpersonal issues may be beneficial in establishing professional competence (Smith, Riva, & Erickson Cornish, 2012). If trust is established and lines of communication are opened, consultation on ethical decision-making may occur (Smith et al, 2012). Given how supervisory relationships are established in other professional arenas where supervisees may have a "need to know" communication with their supervisors, CITs may have difficulty knowing how to approach supervision.…”

“…Given how supervisory relationships are established in other professional arenas where supervisees may have a "need to know" communication with their supervisors, CITs may have difficulty knowing how to approach supervision. Disclosing seemingly unflattering thoughts, feelings, and beliefs may seem counterintuitive to CITs (Smith et al, 2012). When CITs do disclose to supervisors, maximum growth and the development of best practices can occur.…”