Practice oriented research: the case of psychotherapy supervision (Investigación orientada por la práctica: el caso de la supervisión en psicoterapia)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article is a critical reflection on the current state of research into psychotherapy supervision. It examines both the widespread and continuing implementation of supervision in clinical practice, as well as its weaknesses and difficulties (including adverse effects). Developments in psychotherapy supervision research and the place of supervision guidelines are presented. The reviews carried out into the effects of clinical supervision report that so far there is no solid empirical evidence allowing us to fully understand the impacts that supervision has on supervised treatments (acid test). Based on the above, I emphasize the importance of fostering research into psychotherapy supervision, to which the practitioners, i.e., supervisors and supervisees, can be associated in a significant way, thus promoting an avenue for practice-oriented research.