Clinical Evaluation – Case Example of a Supervisee’s Progress
The methods used for evaluation were self-report, record review, and self-evaluation. I had the supervisee complete several written evaluations of her progress in acquiring clinical skills and of the supervisory experience.
The supervisee gained a great deal during the time I knew her. She became increasingly comfortable with diagnosis, treatment planning, case management, legal and ethical issues, and note taking. She understood the dictum “First do no harm” and was careful and alert to issues of client safety. She exhibited a good sense of how to help, and bonded well with most clients. She developed in her ability to observe interactions, choose and implement interventions, and assess their effectiveness. She began to learn to identity personality disorders and devise treatment strategies for working with them.
The supervisee struggled with non-postmodern strategies. She was resistant to treatment planning and documentation (as are most therapists) and had unrealistic expectations of progress. She will need to increase her willingness to be confrontive with patients and not strive to be liked at all times.
She was being taught by her supervisor at school to learn one theory completely and only later to venture into other theoretical work, and this clashed with my viewpoint. We agreed to disagree, and I helped her develop in the ways I have outlined above.
I had some good feedback about this, although it came from the supervisee somewhat grudgingly. One day she told me she realized she couldn’t use Narrative Therapy with all clients because, “Sometimes the clients think the narrative questioning is just being weird. They don’t like it.” Then one day toward the end, she came in very proud to tell me she had done the best in her class on the Mock Orals and “Thank you, that was directly due to the work you did with me that the other students didn’t get.”
Her parting comment to me was, however, “You’re modern,” said like it was an insult. I felt like I was just not hip enough, even though I had never cared before.
I enjoyed the supervisory experience and see my major strengths as a supervisor as my breadth of experience and love of mentoring. Perhaps my biggest weakness is that I enjoy taking over and formulating and theorizing a bit too much, instead of encouraging the supervisee to do it. I will watch for this in the future.
© 2010 Catherine Auman
Catherine Auman, MFT is a CAMFT Certified Supervisor and psychotherapist 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