Psychotherapist use-of-Self in clinical supervision: a qualitative investigation of supervisor experiences

We investigated the experiences of clinical supervisors working with therapists who presented issues related to their use-of-self in psychotherapy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve experienced clinical supervisors. Thematic analysis [Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. In H. Cooper, P. M. Camic, D. L. Long, & A. T. Panter, et al. (Eds.), APA handbook of research methods in psychology: Vol. 2 Research Designs (pp. 57-71). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association] of these interviews revealed five main themes: (a) Supervisee use-of-self issues encountered in supervision; (b) Points of tension in supervision; (c) Roadblocks to resolution; (d) Points of pride in supervising use-of-self; (e) Approaches taken by supervisors in response to supervisee use-of-self issues. Recommendations for clinical supervision and further research are offered.