Supervision and containment in community clinic contexts : a study of trainee clinical psychologists' experiences.
Date
2009-01-07T07:16:22Z
Authors
Revington, Nicola
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Abstract
This study conceptualises the workings of supervision within a South African
community clinic setting, focusing specifically on trainees’ experiences of work
and supervision in such contexts. Training and working in community contexts
has become increasingly important in the field of clinical psychology in South
Africa. Multiple and varied challenges face trainees learning and working in these
contexts. The experience may evoke overwhelming emotional responses for
trainees. Supervision can play an important role in offering support and providing
a reflective space for trainees, thus helping to render their experiences
manageable and meaningful. A qualitative research design was used in this
study to explore the experiences of trainee psychologists learning and working at
a community clinic in Johannesburg as a component of their clinical psychology
Masters training. Six past clinical psychology trainees from the University of the
Witwatersrand were interviewed in order to gain understanding of their
experiences of work and supervision from their own perspectives. What emerged
from analysis of the interview material was a rich description of the community
clinic and the challenges trainees are faced with in working there. The impact of
being a new therapist within the environment was an area commonly discussed
in interviews. Most significantly, the importance of supervision within the context
was highlighted, with interviewees focusing on the need for containment and a
space to think. Bearing these ideas in mind, the study draws on psychodynamic
theory, particularly that of Wilfred R. Bion, to help conceptualise the workings of
supervision in such a context. The study illustrates that considerable and
meaningful work and learning can be done in less than ideal circumstances.
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Keywords
Supervision, Containment, Trainee clincal psychologists