Comparing Different Types of Supervision in Applied Psychology

This report discusses the different types of supervision in applied psychology and their role in improving the well-being and quality of supervisees. It also explores various supervision models and their impact on social workers and supervisors. The aim is to provide effective services and improve the living standards of supervisees.

Applied Psychology in
Context

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Comparing different kinds of supervision..............................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The scientific study of analysing all factors going on human mind and functions which
affect their behaviors is called psychology Fernández-Alvarez, (2016). Clinical supervision can
be defined as a continuous process of professional learning in which practitioners are assisted in
developing their practices via feedback and discussion.
This report is going to show different type of supervision who plays significant role in
assisting and providing several services to supervisee. Patient centered, supervisee centered and
cognitive behavioral supervision are some types of supervision in which the common purpose of
supervisors is to improve health and learning skills of supervisee and maintain a strong
relationship with them.
It will also show different types of supervision model which helps social workers and
supervisors to increase their skills and capabilities to provide effective services to their clients.
They also want to achieve competency in providing qualitative services that improves living
standards of supervisee.
MAIN BODY
Comparing different kinds of supervision
Supervision can be defined as an activity in which supervisor take responsibility for their
supervisee's job performance and guide them as what they need to do and by which action they
can improve themselves. Clinical supervision is an essential aspect of each psychologist’s
training. There are different types of supervisors like ethical, psychological etc. Ethical
supervisors are those who supervise in only those areas in which they are competent in order to
make sure that all supervisee are receiving the highest quality of supervision. The main aim of
clinical, psychological and ethical supervisors are to improve the well-being and quality of
supervisees and for that they do not supervise so many supervisees at the same time because of
maintaining quality. For that clinical supervision psychologists also receive continuous and an
effective training for developing their skills, identity and values Tulsiani & et.al. (2017).
For accomplishing job role of clinical supervisor, some skills, attributes and
competencies are required. Role of clinical psychological supervisor is not easy and sometimes
experienced well-
intentioned psychologist find several difficulties as a supervisor.

Different types of supervision
There are several types of psychotherapy based supervision which observe, assist and
receive feedbacks. These types of supervision feel like a natural extension of the therapy itself.
Several types of Psychotherapy based supervision are described as follows:
Patient centered: With the name it can be said that in this type of supervision, supervisor
mainly focuses on patient's behaviours and their way of talking, presentation etc. Supervisors
perform didactic role because his/her main aim is to treat and help patients in an effective
manner Lee & et.al. (2015).. For this type of supervisor it is important for them to have deep
knowledge, skills related to different types of patients' disease and mind set. There is a less
chance of conflicts because patients and supervisors interpreted the theoretical orientation in the
same way. It is beneficial for both supervisor and patients as it decreases stress and anxiety by
which they can focus on their work efficiently.
Supervisee centered: This type of supervision came into popularity since 1950s. In this
type, supervisor mainly focuses on counselling and content of supervisee's experience.
Supervisee;'s suffers from several problems like anxiety, learning problems. It is also called
competency based approach By giving an effective supervision and guidance, supervisor use
their authoritative approach because the main focus therapeutic session. is on for solving their
problems. This approach is called more experiential than didactic. Supervisee-centred
supervision can stimulate growth for the supervisee with the main purpose of achieving a deep
understanding of their own psychological process.
In addition there is other type of supervision is Supervisory matrix centered: It is a
more complex and effective approach because in this type, supervisors does not only focus on
materials of its clients but also focus on introducing examination of the relationship between
supervisee and supervisor. Role of supervisor in this type is uninvolved expert or has participated
in and reflect upon. By making an effective contact and interaction with supervisees, he/she
examines the parallels of their clients' behaviours.
One more type of supervision is Cognitive behavioural supervision: This type of
supervision encourages supervisee to solve and ask any type of question related to supervision.
The main aim of this type of supervision and approach is to nurture therapeutic relationship with
clients. For this type and accomplishing purpose, supervisor makes an effective use of
observable tools for knowing the reaction of clients. They also assign homework to clients by

setting an agenda for supervision session from existing and successful previous session
Behavioural type of supervision, (2019).
Different types of supervision that have different capabilities and approaches are Feminist
model of supervision: The meaning of feminist theory is that the personal is political or
individual reflect their experience in the context of society's institutionalized values and attitudes
as well. Feminist therapists reflect their own as well as client's experience within the society and
the world in which they live and redefine mental illness. The main aim of this type of supervision
is to give equality to all people on the basis of gender and protect females against inequality. It
also improves the relationship of supervisee and supervisor.
Person centered supervision: This approach and supervision believes that supervisee
has enough and that much of capability that he/she can effectively resolve his/her life problem
without having any type of need and interpretation from the counsellor. Clients have enough
resources to effectively develop a counsellor. In this type, supervisor do not play role as an
expert as like other approaches but work as a collaborator with clients. The main aim of this type
of supervision is to provide an effective environment to supervisee in which supervisee can
express their feelings and shares his/her experience openly. The preliminary purpose is to
maintain the attitudes & personal characteristics of the therapist and the quality of the client-
therapist relationship. For increasing effective learning skills they try to increase relationship.
So, it can be said that from above discussed different types of supervision that, the
common aim of all types is to help supervisee and improve their living standard.
Basis of difference Development Integrated
Meaning Development models includes several
steps and stages that helps supervisor to
develop supervisee skills and
knowledge. Each stage of this model
consists of discrete skills. It is a
conceptual model that describe each
step of development in detail during
patient therapy.
Integrate means
combination and a group
of 2 or more than 2
approaches which can give
each and every detail that
can help in providing carte
to patients.

Advantages It has different level of integrity like
basic level, medium level and broadest
level. It also describes different human
activities that are currently researched
by branches of science such as, social,
personality etc.
It describes each step in
detail manner that helps in
identifying the actual stage
and position of supervisee
in development stage.
Disadvantages It is quite complex because it requires
continuous reflection and evaluation by
supervisors and supervisee.
It requires to have
knowledge of several skills
which can take time of
supervisee.
Development Model of supervision
Development models includes several steps and stages that helps supervisor to develop
supervisee skills and knowledge. Each stage of this model consists of discrete skills. For
example, initially supervisees have a few skills and knowledge and also are expected to have
lack confidence. After that achieving some guidance and supervising, at middle stage they have
more skills as well as confidence Different type of supervision model, (2019) At the end of the
development stage, they are expected to have more skills and knowledge like problem solving
skills by which they can solve their own problems and do not require any counsellor and
supervision. So, it can be said that development approach is the key for supervisor which help
them out in identifying the actual stage and position of supervisee and their progression level for
bring them out to the next stage. Some types of development model of supervision are discussed
as follows:
Integrated: It is called one of the main and effective development model as this has 3
stages or levels of identifying the actual position of supervisee Pace & et.al. (2019). Different
levels of this approach are:
Level 1: This is a initial stage and called entry level for supervisee who are high in stress and
anxiety and seek for an effective counselling. They also have fear in the context of self
evaluation.

Level 2: It is the next level and recognized at mid stage. In this stage, their motivation and
confidence fluctuate and have some increased experience as compare to level 1. They link their
own mood to success with clients.
Level 3: In this stage supervisees feel more secure and fearless, and they found themselves stable
in motivation and confidence as compare to level 2. By using therapeutic self in intervention they
develop their own skills and experience.
Ronnestad model: This model is based on a longitudinal qualitative study which is
conducted by interviewing approximate 100 therapists. All that therapists are ranged on the basis
of their experience level and skills from graduates to professional and having an average of 25
years of experience. It also made up and consists of 6 phases of development. First 3 phases are
known as beginning phase for students and remaining 3 phases are called self-explanatory and
experienced professional phase. This approach believes that development stages and all phases
are quite complex because it requires continuous reflection and evaluation by supervisors and
supervisee as well. From all the phases overall it can be said that maintaining relationship
between client and counsellor is the key of the success and getting an effective treatment
outcomes Rønnestad & et.al. (2019).
So, it can be said that development approach is beneficial for both supervisee and
supervisor for accomplishing their goals and increasing learning skills.
Integrative model of supervision
Integrative means more than one or a combination of more than one element. So, from
the name it represents that this model relies on more than 1 techniques. In different types of
techniques, counsellors practice what they describe as integrative counselling. 2 approaches of
this model like technical eclecticism and theoretical make this model successful. Technical
integrative approach focus on differences and it is a collection of several techniques. On the
other hand, theoretical integration can be defined as a conceptual creation beyond a mere
blending of techniques Saini, Nikolova & Black, 2019). The main aim is to produce a theoretical
framework that combined the best of 2 or more than 2 theoretical approaches to get an effective
outcome which can not be gained by a single theory. Some examples of integrative supervision
model are described as follows:
Bermard's discrimination model: It is the best and important theory of integrative model
which many supervisors are using is Bermard's discrimination. It comprises 3 separate elements

of supervision such as: conceptualization, intervention and personalization and for 3 different
supervisor roles such as: counsellor, consultant and teacher. Different supervisors respond in a
different manner like teacher focuses on a specific intervention which are being used by
supervisee in the session of their clients. In the role of counsellor, he/she focuses on supervisees'
conceptualization of the work. Response of supervisors or counsellor is mainly depends on the
needs of supervisee's because it often changes across different sessions. Within the focus and a
specific area, supervisors evaluates supervisee's abilities and after they take the decision of
selection of job role from which they need to respond McNeill & Stoltenberg, (2016).
System approach: The main key and the heart of this system approach is improved
relationship between supervisee and supervisor that are mutually involved in the whole process
of supervision. They both have a common aim at bestowing power to both members. There are
some dimensions of supervision has been described which all are connected by the main
supervisory relationship. Some dimensions involve: tasks of supervision, functions of
supervision, the trainee, the supervisor, the client and the institution. Some dimensions except
tasks and functions of supervision shows unique factors that can influence to both in the whole
process of supervisory. There are several models of system approach like Holloway's, Proctor's,
Kadushin's etc.
So, it can be said that development and integrated models of supervision plays an
important role in supervising process. With this help, supervisors can help supervisee and solve
their problems related to the supervision.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that clinical supervision played a vital role
but is a complex activity. Competent superiors posses several skills and knowledge that helped
them in supporting supervisee and improve clients services. By applying their knowledge to the
individual cases they improved relationship with clients. It has also shown different types of
supervision whose main and common aim was to develop skills and improve relationship with
supervisee. Cognitive behavioral, feminist model Person centered are some types of supervision
that supported supervisors and clients to develop their knowledge and solve problems related to
supervision. It has not only shown different types of supervision but also has shown different
types of model by which supervisors made their supervision skills and increased their experience
and provide effective services to clients.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Fernández-Alvarez, H. (2016). Reflections on supervision in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy
Research. 26(1). 1-10.
Lee, P. C. & et.al. (2015). Improving training and systems of care in child and adolescent
consultation-liaison psychiatry through patient-centered graduate medical education:
one institution’s approach. Academic Psychiatry. 39(4). 389-392.
McNeill, B. W., & Stoltenberg, C. D. (2016). Supervision essentials for the integrative
developmental model. American Psychological Association.
Pace, D., & et.al. (2019). An Applied Model for Supervision in Student Affairs.
Rønnestad, M. H. & et.al. (2019). The professional development of counsellors and
psychotherapists: Implications of empirical studies for supervision, training and
practice. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 19(3). 214-230.
Saini, M., Nikolova, K., & Black, T. (2019). An Integrative Model for Taming the Storm:
Casework Supervision in Child Protection Services for Working with Families Involved
in High-Conflict Child Custody Disputes. Child Welfare. 97(3).
Tulsiani, S. & et.al. (2017). Multi-view supervision for single-view reconstruction via
differentiable ray consistency. In Proceedings of the IEEE conference on computer
vision and pattern recognition (pp. 2626-2634).
Online
Different type of supervision model. 2019. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.marquette.edu/education/graduate/documents/brief-summary-of-supervision-
models.pdf>
Behavioural type of supervision. 2019. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310957>