Psychotherapy supervision is one of the essential tools for a therapist candidate to become a competent psychotherapist. In reality, psychotherapy supervision is a prerequisite of clinical psychology training programs. Psychotherapy supervision is the process through which a certified and experienced psychotherapist evaluates and guides a trainee therapist as they learn the psychotherapy process.
The supervisor does not walk a tightrope; instead, she/he acts as a model; she/he points the rope to the trainee therapist, who may take calculated risks with the knowledge that everyone is safe and display her/his originality while keeping in mind all rhetoric of the acrobatic theoreticians.
When face-to-face supervision is unfeasible, psychotherapy supervisory activities may be undertaken using online supervision channels such as e-mail, phone, and videoconferencing. It is crucial to be aware of the constraints on confidentiality and privacy in this circumstance.
Just as the relationship between the therapist and the client is vital for the effectiveness of psychotherapy, the relationship between the supervisor and the therapist candidate in supervision is as important for the effectiveness of the process. A supervisor is expected to develop specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. For a supervision process to be effective, the supervisor should behave in line with the trainee therapist's current developmental stage, emphasizing the therapeutic alliance with the candidate and in harmony with the candidate's educational goals. Each session focuses on assisting the supervisee in achieving one or more of these goals. Simultaneously, the supervisor guides the trainee by observing his or her psychological state or by paying attention to the client's feedback. Through his in-session conduct, he serves as a model for the candidate and creates opportunities to examine his attitudes, feelings, and actions.
At our location in Etiler, Istanbul, our psychotherapists provide face-to-face or online psychotherapy supervision in Turkish and English for trainee therapists.