Enhancing supervisee reflectivity in clinical supervision: a case study illustration

Abstract

Reflectivity has been described as the cyclical process whereby individuals engage in a critical evaluation of their affective, cognitive, and behavioral experiences to produce insight and fundamental shifts in their original beliefs. Developing reflectivity in supervisees is one of the most challenging, yet important, responsibilities of clinical supervisors, given its link to such skills as critical thinking, ethical decision making, and problem solving. This paper advances the literature by presenting a case example that demonstrates how reflectivity can be emphasized in clinical supervision, highlighting the barriers to reflectivity, and providing strategies that supervisors can utilize to encourage reflectivity within clinical supervision. The strategies and information discussed may be flexibly applied to supervisees of all developmental levels within the context of individual supervision.