Skip to main content
Log in

The role of empathy in supervision

  • Articles
  • Published:
Clinical Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Empathy plays an important role in clinical supervision. It is the link between the client whose treatment is being supervised, the clinician/supervisee, and the supervisor. The supervisor uses an empathic capacity as well as theoretical knowledge to understand the clinical work and build the supervisory relationship. Often the progress of a case can be traced through the development of empathic understanding in the supervision. The transmission of empathy requires creativity and openness and is one of the major challenges in supervision. By analyzing the different uses of empathy in clinical supervision we can increase our understanding of the supervisory process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amacher, K. Explorations into the dynamics of learning in field work.Smith College Studies in Social Work, 1976,56, 163–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buie, D. Empathy: Its nature and limitations.Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 1981,29, 281–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buie, D. H. and Maltsberger, J. T. Growth and apprenticeship learning. In:Teaching Psychotherapy of Psychotic Patients by E. V. Semrad, D. Van Buskirk, (Ed.). New York: Greene and Stratton, 1969, 65–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekstein, R. and Wallerstein, R. S.The Teaching and Learning of Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, Inc. 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, Y., Spotnitz, H. and Nagelberg, L. One aspect of casework training through supervision.Social Casework, 1953,34, 150–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadushin, A.Supervision in Social Work. New York: Columbia University Press, Inc., 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, E. M. The parallel process in social work treatment and supervision.Social Casework, 1979,60, 520–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohut, H.The Restoration of the Self. New York: International Universities Press, Inc., 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattinson, J.The Reflection Process in Casework Supervision. London: Institute of Marital Studies, the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Searies, H. F.Collected Papers on Schizophrenia and Related Subjects. New York: International Universities Press, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dean, R.G. The role of empathy in supervision. Clin Soc Work J 12, 129–139 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755663

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00755663

Keywords

Navigation