Race in Supervision: Let's Talk About It

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Psychotherapy Training

Background:

• Addressing race and racial trauma in psychotherapy supervision is critical for effective psychiatric training.
• Therapist's ability to discuss these topics in supervision enhances their likelihood of addressing them in therapy.
• Sociocultural dynamics can contribute to avoidance of these sensitive topics in supervisory relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the dynamics that lead to discussions of race and culture in supervision.
• To identify salient themes across different phases of conversations about race.
• To provide guidelines for supervisors on facilitating discussions about race.

Main Methods:

• Review of key literature in psychiatry and psychology regarding race and racial trauma.
• Analysis of contextual and sociocultural dynamics influencing supervisory discussions.
• Identification of themes during pre-dialogue, conversation, and post-conversation phases.

Main Results:

• Themes identified include alliance building, supercompetence, avoidance, shared vulnerability, ownership of discussion, closeness versus distance, and speaking up.
• Three distinct phases of conversation about race were observed: pre-dialogue, the conversation, and after the conversation.
• Successful navigation of these themes facilitated robust discussions on race and culture.

Conclusions:

• Facilitating open dialogue about race and racial trauma in supervision is essential for therapist development.
• Supervisors need specific strategies to address these topics effectively.
• Guidelines are provided to help supervisors foster these important conversations.