Supervision in clinical psychology: a meta-analysis

Background. At the current stage of development in clinical psychology, supervision is an integral component of the professional activities of mental health specialists. It provides systematic support through regular meetings with experienced colleagues or supervisors, facilitating deeper analysis of client cases, ethical issues, professional interactions, and work-related challenges. The relevance of researching supervision lies in its recognition as a distinct professional competency that requires specific knowledge, skills, and value-based orientations necessary for effective supervisory practice. Purpose – the purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive examination of supervision in clinical psychology as a key element of professional development for mental health practitioners, and to carry out a meta-analysis of global experience regarding its implementation, organization, and effectiveness in order to identify best practices and approaches. Materials and Methods. A meta-analytical approach was applied to summarize and systematize empirical data on supervision in clinical psychology. The study focused on analyzing current scientific literature dedicated to the effectiveness, structure, and impact of supervisory practices on the professional functioning of mental health specialists. To ensure scientific rigor and methodological accuracy, relevant sources were identified through searches in international databases such as MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection. Results. As a result of the meta-analytic review of 11 empirical studies, a moderate positive association was found between the quality of supervision and psychotherapy outcomes: the overall integrated effect size was r = 0.21, accounting for 4% of the explained variance. After excluding studies with potential evaluator bias (ratings by supervisors and therapists), the effect size increased to r = 0.24 (6% of explained variance). The most consistent effects were observed in relation to direct clinical outcomes, while associations with client satisfaction and therapeutic alliance quality demonstrated greater variability. These findings highlight the effectiveness of supervisory practices in clinical psychology and their potential for implementation in wartime conditions, particularly in work with military personnel, internally displaced persons, and civilians. Conclusions. Overall, supervision research lags behind psychotherapy research in terms of methodological development, highlighting the need for improved approaches. These directions align with the requirements of current regulatory documents in the field of mental health.