Some reflections on clinical supervision: an existential-phenomenological paradigm

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Practice
• Clinical Psychology
• Palliative Care Nursing

Background:

• Clinical supervision is crucial for effective healthcare, particularly in palliative care.
• Existing literature spans psychotherapy, counselling, and nursing, with varied theoretical underpinnings.
• The need for a framework integrating diverse concepts for enhanced practice is evident.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize literature on clinical supervision in health-related practice, focusing on palliative care.
• To explore theoretical concepts like existentialism, phenomenology, and psychoanalysis relevant to supervision.
• To propose a framework for effective clinical supervision informed by lived experience and authenticity.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of psychotherapy, counselling, and nursing.
• Exploration of philosophical concepts: existentialism, phenomenology, psychoanalysis.
• Analysis of dynamic forces influencing supervision: hope, trust, values.

Main Results:

• An existential-phenomenological approach to supervision is proposed.
• The concept of 'lived experience' is central to understanding palliative care.
• Authenticity and value systems are key to designing effective supervision.

Conclusions:

• Clinical supervision design should incorporate value and belief systems.
• Nursing models can inform supervision approaches.
• An existential-phenomenological framework enhances palliative care nursing and supervision authenticity.