What do psychoanalytic supervisees say about good supervision?

This study explored psychoanalytic supervisees’ conceptualization of good supervision. Fourteen registered psychoanalytic psychotherapists recognized by the Irish Council for Psychotherapy were interviewed. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, interviews were analysed, and this process yielded two superordinate themes encompassing five subordinate themes. The superordinate theme providing illumination encapsulated the participants’ experiences of illuminating the self and illuminating the client. The superordinate theme helping with emotional management referred to the participants’ conceptualization of supervision as containing participants’ difficult emotions, normalizing clinical difficulties and feeling accompanied. The findings are discussed in light of their implications for practice and theory. Of particular interest is the relief that participants felt when their fears and anxieties were addressed and worked through in supervision. In addition, the study builds a foundation for future research studies to explore the supervisee insight and identify more specific types of insight.