CLINICAL SUPERVISION IN PRACTICE: A SURVEY OF UK COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL PSYCHOTHERAPISTS ACCREDITED BY THE BABCP

Abstract

Clinical supervision is an integral aspect of training and is essential for accreditation as a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist. A questionnaire survey of a random sample of accredited British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (n = 280) is reported, 61% (N = 170) responded by describing their supervision practices in a number of areas. These included the organization of supervision, content, satisfaction, techniques, models, interdisciplinary working and supervision of others. The results indicate that satisfaction levels with supervision were high amongst accredited therapists and that the ratio of time spent in supervision to therapeutic contact is, on average, higher than recommended minimum levels. Supervision was less structured and active than therapy and little use was made of audio/video tapes of therapy sessions within supervision. The level of training for supervisors was highly variable with a substantial proportion having received no formal training in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy supervision. Dual role relationships were also common. Finally, recommendations for further research and practice are made.