The Supervisory Alliance in Group Supervision

In this paper the author explores the ways in which a supervision group can be a source of ruptures in the supervisory alliance. Furthermore, the group's involvement in repair of the supervisory alliance is examined. The author draws upon empirical material from supervision sessions with a supervision group consisting of one supervisor and four novice psychotherapists conducting psychodynamic psychotherapy at a university clinic. Based on the work of W.R. Bion, the paper argues that, in group supervision, the supervisory alliance cannot be separated from the group processes in which it is embedded. The author concludes that a supervision group can affect the supervisory alliance negatively through group dynamics, or the alliance can be ruptured by other alliance formations that constitute themselves in group supervision. However, a supervision group can contribute to the repair of the supervisory alliance by supporting the supervisee, compensating for the supervisor's imperfection and supporting the supervisor.