Assessment and Goals in Clinical Supervision – Case Study
When it came time to assess my supervisee, I focused on her diagnostic and treatment planning skills, her theoretical basis, the stage of her professional development and skill level, and her interpersonal style:
The supervisee had many of the characteristics expected at the novice level: confusion between textbook knowledge and practical application, insecurity about the “doingness” of therapy, and lack of therapeutic techniques and case management skills for a variety of issues. She needed to become comfortable with client sessions, learn how to conduct an intake, take session notes, and how to present a case. She didn’t know how to identify when a client might have an Axis II diagnosis, and as novices often do, tended to under-diagnose. She needed to learn to research issues online or elsewhere.
My supervisee was very much in awe of skill and technique that had taken twenty years to develop and measured herself against that. She wanted to be able to do Narrative Therapy as well as Michael White with all her clients, and when this didn’t happen, blamed herself. I worked with her to broaden her view and be able to honor the personal strengths she brings to the therapy setting, such as her previous career as an educator.
On the plus side, my supervisee had a very pleasant, engaging demeanor and self-presentation that helped her establish a good bond with most clients. She has an innate sense of how to help, and good clinical instincts.
The specific goals I had for the supervisee were at times different than the goals she had for herself:
The supervisee identified her goals as: to become comfortable with the intake process, to know how to recognize and deal with a crisis, to have confidence when sitting with a client, and to “learn something about treatment planning although we don’t call it that.” She said she might have transference issues during supervision due to growing up with a highly critical authority figure. During the course of our work together, it became apparent that she also had the goal of being able to do Narrative Therapy as well as Michael White (while still in her traineeship).
My goals were: to help her develop counseling skills, to learn the rudiments of case conceptualization, to increase her professional role development and her ability to self evaluate. I also wanted for her to learn the benefits of an eclectic approach, to be able to enjoy this beginning stage and “not knowing,” that she honor the particular strengths that she brings to therapy, i.e. her background as a teacher, instead of trying to eradicate it. I wanted to help her be easy on herself for her learning curve, and to understand that she may someday be as good a clinician as Michael White, in not less than fifteen years time.
© 2010 Catherine Auman
Catherine Auman, MFT is a CAMFT Certified Supervisor and psychotherapist with over 25 years experience based in Los Angeles, Calfornia. She has advanced training in both traditional and alternative methodologies based on ancient traditions and wisdom teachings. Visit her online at http://www.catherineauman.com