INFLUENCE AND VULNERABILITY IN PSYCHOANALYTIC SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT

This article suggests that struggles regarding personal influence are critical to understanding the supervisory process and the process of c hange in psychoanalytic treatment. By the nature of their role, superv isors and therapists seek to influence. Yet, they also fear having und ue influence. Patients and supervisees, although seeking influence and help, are also wary of the vulnerability to another individual that s uch influence may entail. The essential question addressed in this art icle is how the kind of personal influence that patients and supervise es want and need-and also fear-can be enabled, given the conflicts abo ut influence of all parties in the process. It is suggested that a pro cess of reciprocal vulnerability to being influenced, in both the trea tment and supervisory relationships, enables an atmosphere of safety a nd the possibility of having an impact in return. Examples from clinic al supervision illustrate these points.