Adolescent Group Psychotherapy Supervision in a Group Format: An Emerging Model

A qualitative analysis of the supervision of adolescent group therapy sessions was accomplished using group supervision journals. Two clinical psychology interns and three supervising clinical psychologists participated in the study. Two separate adolescent inpatient process groups were conducted biweekly over a 5-month period with each intern co-leading a group with a supervising psychologist. Following each weekly group supervision session, interns and psychologists completed a questionnaire as part of their group supervision journal. Results showed that the interns perceived the group therapy supervision process as helping them develop a strong knowledge base and important competencies essential for conducting adolescent group therapy. The interns also characterized their group therapy supervision experience as being instrumental in transitioning them from a graduate student and intern identity to that of an autonomous professional psychologist. Our emerging training model of adolescent group psychotherapy supervision may be refined based on future research and adapted for use in other settings.