A Hermeneutic Analysis of Relational Dynamics in Counseling and Psychotherapy Supervision

Counseling and psychotherapy supervision is a process that includes crucial relational dynamics (Calvert et al., 2016). Power dynamics and multicultural considerations (Green & Dekkers, 2010), as well as parallel processes (Tracey et al., 2012) are among those concepts playing nuanced roles in the relationship and underlining an intersubjective nature of a mutual process. In this study, I explore these relational dynamics in a single individual supervisory relationship. Following a qualitative, interpretive methodology of Gadamer’s (2013) philosophical hermeneutics, I focused on interpreting eight supervision video recordings of a counselor education and supervision doctoral student (supervisor), with a master’s practicum student of mental health counseling (supervisee), in the roles of supervisor and supervisee, respectively. To complement my interpretations, I also used Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP; Shedler & Westen, 2007) to assess the supervisor’s clinical observation of the supervisee’s personality patterns. I used SWAP as supportive data for further discussion of the session recordings and reconstruction of my observations and interpretations. Throughout the interpretation process, I discuss relational dynamics that included power, multicultural considerations, and parallel processes within the observed supervisory relationship. My interpretations revealed that the power dynamics within the observed supervisory relationship had fluctuating features rather than a one-sided, linear hierarchy within and through the sessions. The personal and professional needs of both parties highlighted these characteristics of power in the observed relationship. Similarly, I observed that multicultural considerations within the observed supervisory relationship could be interpreted in conjunction with power dynamics, and that parallel processes could be considered alongside the personal and professional expectations of the supervisee within the supervision relationship and process. My interpretations also indicated that the nuanced aspects of power and multicultural considerations could emerge when they were considered within a relational perspective. Overall, I addressed how the process concepts focused on within the observed supervision relationship could vary with the nuances of the supervision relationship. With a combination of critical and descriptive perspectives, I discuss the interpretations in the context of existing supervision literature. I also discuss implications for research and practice of counseling and psychotherapy supervision.