Relationship and Accountability: Tensions in Feminist Supervision

A challenge in clinical supervision is balancing tension between fostering a collaborative supervisory relationship and maintaining supervisory accountability. In feminist supervision this tension is heightened by virtue of its contextual, collaborative, and interpersonal qualities. What distinguishes feminist supervision is the intent to address hierarchical factors and examine their impact rather than simply exercise authority and the intent to honor the explicit commitment to the areas of mutuality possible in the relationship. Reflection and elaboration of tensions and potential conflicting roles are part of feminist supervisors' role definition. Feminist supervision models explicate the impact of such power and relationship on the supervisory process. The purpose of this paper is to describe the tensions and possible interventions to structure the relationship effectively, elucidating supervisory power and accountability in the era of competency-based clinical supervision. Drawing on best practices in clinical supervision, including supervisory alliance, informed consent, and role elucidation provides pathways for maximum respectful collaboration in the context of accountability. The areas in which best practices are not being met in actual practice are also highlighted.