Special Section: Matrix and Reverie in Supervision Groups

Abstract

Supervision entails being an apprentice and having a tutor at the beginning of one's training. As such, the asymmetrical relations between the supervisee and the supervisor tend to accrue unconscious meanings of power, hierarchies, control and dependency and these increase the supervisee's vulnerabilities. Without underrating the value of individual supervision, we believe, along with others who have related to these issues, that group supervision can promote the therapist's sense of belonging and enhance the consolidation of his/her professional identity. Nevertheless, some may have difficulties as supervisees in groups. We are seeking a conceptual frame that, when applied to group supervision, would maximize its productivity, reduce its disadvantages and allow for the development of a learning potential space for all its participants. We suggest that Bion's notion of reverie, and Foulkes's concept of the matrix, when bound together, provide such an integrative base that they can enhance the productivity of group supervision. Technical considerations and clinical material are presented to illustrate the structure and process mentioned above.