Difficult situations in team and group supervision: A mixed methods study of supervisor and supervisee experiences

Abstract This mixed-methods study, published in the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO), explores difficult situations arising during team and group supervision. In-depth knowledge of such situations seems to be crucial for improving the quality of supervision and gaining a better understanding of how it functions. While previous research has identified common difficult situations in clinical supervision, there is a lack of comprehensive investigation into difficult situations in other supervision settings and types. Therefore, we conducted an online survey consisting of closed- and open-ended questions, with 88 supervisors and 33 supervisees reporting a total of 158 situations. We identified a range of difficult situations associated with the supervisees, the interaction, the supervisor, the setting or the context. Furthermore, we identified numerous factors on the part of the supervisor, the supervisees, the setting, the context, and the supervisory alliance that were perceived as significant, i.e., helpful or hindering, when dealing with these situations. Our quantitative results partly support the hypothesis that a more positive assessment of the situation resolution is associated with a lower probability of discontinuation of the supervision process. The results provide crucial information for supervision training programs, supervisors, and supervisees, and important impetus for further research.