Managing group supervision with beginning therapists: What can experienced supervisors tell us?

While group supervision in psychotherapy training has gained increasing attention, particularly in university settings, research on the group format is still scarce. The aim of the present, interview-based, qualitative study was to explore how group supervision is managed by experienced supervisors. Sixteen supervisors were interviewed. All participants were working within university clinics, and the article focuses on the challenges they faced and how they handled them. A major finding was the emphasis of the significance of a safe and accepting structure that facilitates openness and self-disclosure. The students were encouraged to follow their own preferred theoretical and professional ideas, and the supervisors met challenges in an open and flexible way. The supervisors reported few problems with group dynamics, and obstacles to good learning processes in individual students were generally experienced as successfully handled.