This is my letter to Therapy Today, (you will need to scroll down to page 42), which was printed in the November issue, in response to an article on training in psychotherapy, (scroll to page 26), which appeared in the October issue (just click on the highlighted links). As an integrative therapist I try not to fit the client into one approach but endeavour to use whatever theoretical approach that suits and I believe that a good therapist is entirely flexible. Similarly, I believe it is also better that supervisors remain open to flexibility in their theoretical orientation rather than sticking to a fixed way of working.
The word supervision has apparently been debated for many years in our world as to the appropriateness of the term. Themes of control,management,superiority and power can often be associated with the description. I have often wondered whether the term itself sets up the potential for an unconscious creation of a narcissist–co-narcissist relationship. Some have argued that ‘independent consultation’ might be a more accurate term, as is often used in the USA. I like the term ‘all vision’.