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The Necessity of Continuing Education for Psychotherapy Supervisors

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Abstract

Over the past decade, the practice of neurobiology has come to dominate hospital-based psychotherapy, and the teaching of psychotherapy has become marginalized in psychiatry residency programs across the country. As a result, psychotherapy supervisors must play an increasingly important role in maintaining the viability of this discipline. Moreover, because the supervisory relationship is the main way that trainees develop their identity as psychotherapists, supervisors’ development of knowledge and skill is critical to their role as mentor. The authors describe a symposium and lecture series for trainee supervisors that enabled them to come together and offer a forum for a lively exchange of ideas and information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Education and Development for Psychotherapy Supervisors, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Helen Riess M.D. (Director, Instructor in Psychiatry)

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Helen Riess M.D. (Director, Instructor in Psychiatry) &  Anne K. Fishel Ph.D. (Director, Instructor in Psychology)

  3. Couples Therapy Training, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Anne K. Fishel Ph.D. (Director, Instructor in Psychology)

Authors
  1. Helen Riess M.D.
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  2. Anne K. Fishel Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Helen Riess M.D..

Additional information

The authors gratefully acknowledge all the speakers in our Continuing Education series for their expertise and willingness to share it with fellow supervisors. This series would not have been possible without their generous contribution of knowledge and time: (Symposium #1) Irene Briggin, M.D., Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Senior Psychiatrist, MGH, Assistant Clinical Professor, Harvard Medical School (HMS); Anne K. Fishel, Ph.D., Director, Couples Therapy Training, MGH, Instructor Psychology, HMS; Paul Hamburg, M.D., Assistant Director, Eating Disorders Unit, MGH, Assistant Professor, HMS; Edward Messner, M.D., Psychiatrist, MGH, Associate Clinical Professor, HMS; (Symposium #2) Anne Alonso, Ph.D., Director, Center for Psychoanalytic Studies, MGH, Professor of Psychology, The Fielding Institute, Clinical Professor of Psychology, HMS; (Symposium #3) Brenda Black, Ph.D., Supervision Educator and Consultant; (Symposium #4) John Herman, M.D., Residency Training Director, MGH, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, HMS; Roberta Pressman, Ed.D., Member, Training Committee for Psychology Internship Program, MGH, Instructor in Psychology, HMS; Eva Schoenfeld, Ph.D., Member, Training Committee for Psychology Internship Program, MGH, Instructor in Psychology, HMS; (Symposium #5) Samuel James, Ed.D., Associate Director, Center for Group Psychotherapy, MGH, Clinical Instructor, HMS; Paula Rauch, M.D., Director of the Child Psychiatry Consultation Service, MGH, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, HMS; James Groves, M.D., Psychiatrist, MGH, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, HMS; (Symposium #6) Jane Thorbeck, Ed.D., Faculty and Supervisor, Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis, Supervisor, Center for Psychoanalytic Studies, MGH, Faculty, Advanced Training Program, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute; (Symposium #7) Ronald Schouten, M.D., Director, Law and Psychiatry Service, MGH, Assistant Professor, HMS; Michael Broad, Esq., Legal Council, Partners Healthcare, MGH and Brigham and Womens Hospital; (Symposium #8) Dr. Anne Alonso; Carol Nadelson, M.D., Director, Partners’ Office for Women’s Careers, Brigham and Womens Hospital and MGH, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, HMS.

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Riess, H., Fishel, A.K. The Necessity of Continuing Education for Psychotherapy Supervisors. Acad Psychiatry 24, 147–155 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.24.3.147

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.24.3.147

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