Using transactional analysis to understand the supervisory process

Most literature on supervision praises its ability to create space for reflection, but seldom explores the disabling effects. Using the experiences of four nurses, this article makes use of Berne's Transactional Analysis model as a method for illuminating patterns within supervision. The article concludes that the confessional nature of clinical supervision reflects contemporary practice and the implications of supervision really appear to be an undercover policing or enforcement of cultural/management objectives.