The relational 3C model for research supervision for counsellors, psychotherapists and counselling psychologists

Abstract

Research supervision remains an undertheorised, under‐regulated and often unsupported profession. This article focuses on what research supervisors and research supervisees regard as “helpful” supervision on doctoral programmes in the field of counselling, psychotherapy and counselling psychology. The paper is based on a mixed methods study consisting of an online survey ( N = 226) with closed and open questions and optional interviews (10) analysed by “artfully interpretive reflexive thematic analysis” ( Supporting research in counselling and psychotherapy qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research 19–38. Palgrave Macmillan.). In the survey questions, respondents rated “research knowledge” and “empathy” almost equally. The free‐text comments and interview data added, in turn, deeper and more nuanced understandings into what both research “knowledge” and “empathy” might involve for different people—and at different stages of the research process. The analysis of free‐text comments and interviews moved iteratively back and forth across six stages, typical for reflexive thematic analysis, and was influenced by our interests into “narrative knowing.” We started with the free‐text comments and then read the interviews—to return to our free‐text comment themes from new angles, which eventually were shared in a focus group with supervisors in training. The paper describes the development of a suggested “relational 3C model” with clarity, containment and compassion as key supervisory dimensions applied across eight areas with actions from supervisory contracts to research completion.