Perspectives at the Edge of Experiencing in Clinical Supervision

Abstract

In this chapter I describe doctoral research into counselling and psychotherapy supervision, investigating meanings attributed to phenomena accompanying significant events that challenged therapists’ and supervisors’ sense-making, their world view and theoretical approaches in psychotherapy practice (Nolan, 2008a, 2008b). I set out to see how supervisors work with what might be described as ‘exceptional human experiences’ (Palmer, 1999; Palmer & Braud, 2002), ‘non-ordinary’ occurrences (Grof & Grof, 1989) or perceptions not seeming to fit within ‘rational’ scientific knowledge of what ‘should’ be, considering how practitioners manage clinical material that transcends prior perceptions of ‘reality’ and meaning. However, the phrase ‘non-ordinary’ implies out-of-the-ordinary events and experiences that others may simply see as ordinary and perfectly normal (Harvey, 2003; Moodley & West, 2005). Insights are explored into the managing of phenomena and negotiating meanings within relational complexity; key features that impact on supervisory relationships are identified.