psychoanalytic supervision
Specialized training supervision focusing on unconscious processes in both patient and analyst within the therapeutic relationship.
Full Definition
Psychoanalytic supervision is an intensive educational process where experienced analysts guide trainees in understanding unconscious dynamics, transference-countertransference patterns, and analytic technique. Unlike other forms of clinical supervision, it emphasizes the analyst's unconscious responses and personal reactions as sources of clinical information. Supervision explores the parallel processes between supervisor-supervisee and analyst-patient relationships, examining how unconscious communications manifest across these dyads. This form of supervision is essential for developing analytic identity and technical competence.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as compound adjective. Specify as distinct from general clinical supervision.
In Context
- "Psychoanalytic supervision revealed how the candidate's countertransference mirrored the patient's early relationship with her mother." — Supervision case note
- "The institute requires four years of psychoanalytic supervision for certification as a training analyst." — Training program requirements