At THE OBJECT RELATIONS INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOANALYSIS
The Supervisory Mentorship at the Object Relations Institute is a one year program for those who wish to train to do supervision, both at the Object Relations Institute, as well as for the practice of supervision in the field of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis in general.
To qualify for acceptance to the Supervisory Mentorship Training Program, one has to graduate from a psychoanalytic institute’s full training program, as well as she/he needs to be in psychoanalytic practice for at least three years.
The program consists of weekly meetings with an ORI Training Analyst and Senior Supervisor, who reviews and discusses the weekly supervisory sessions that the Supervisor in Training has with an ORI candidate. The Candidate, who volunteers to be in Supervision with the Supervisor in Training, is offered a free supervision, for 35 weekly sessions. The Candidate does not get credit towards supervisory requirements, but has the benefit of a free weekly supervision, and Candidates have been grateful for such an opportunity.
In addition to discussing the weekly supervisory sessions with the ORI Supervisory Mentor, the Candidate also is assigned some readings on the supervision process, which are also discussed with the Mentor. Such readings include Susan Kavaler-Adler’s journal article on “The Supervisor as an Internal Object” (related to transference in supervision) and an article on the parallel process between the supervisory session and the therapy session process being discussed in supervision at that moment.
The Supervisor in Training reads the articles and asks questions to the Mentor, who explains overall themes of the supervisory process.
In the 35 weekly Supervisory Mentorship sessions, the Mentor and Supervisor in Training go over the process of the Supervisor’s session with the Candidate. The case being discussed with the Candidate is also discussed, but with the focus of how to direct the supervisory process around the case.
The demeanor of the Candidate is discussed, and the Supervisor’s approach to the individual supervisee is discussed. The Mentor can help the Supervisor in Training understand the vulnerabilities of the Supervisee, as well as to understand the resistances of the Supervisee. This often leads to discussing overall avenues to the “good enough” supervisory process. Empathy for the Candidate is emphasized, which also aids the supervisee to empathize with her/his patient.
Enjoy Dr. Kavaler-Adler’s article on “the supervisor as an internal object”