Feminist ethical challenges in supervision: A trainee perspective

Much like psychotherapy, the conduct of clinical supervision is ripe for po tential ethical dilemmas due to the power differences inherent in the roles of supervisor and trainee. This study investigated these ethical dilemmas from the perspective of the trainee using a focus group and individual inte rviews. A qualitative analysis was conducted utilizing the feminist ethical frameworks of Brown (1994) and the Feminist Therapy Institute (1990). Trai nees presented ethical conflicts that fell into three main categories: case conceptualization, failures of respect and mutuality and misuses of power. Implications of these findings and suggestions for resolving such dilemmas are presented.