An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Music Therapy Clinical Supervision Process

Abstract

The aim of this Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study was to explore the process of clinical supervision for music therapy practicum from the perspective of the supervisor. Supervised clinical training in music therapy is required of student music therapists as part of their academic and clinical training prior to being qualified to take the board-certification exam. While music therapy supervision has been studied from different vantage points, the literature appears limited regarding the perspective of the supervisor in that process. With IPA as the methodology of the current study, the author conducted semi-structured interviews to investigate six supervisors’ lived experiences and sense-making process of the process of clinical supervision. Twelve superordinate themes emerged as a result of data analysis, suggesting that supervisors’ past experiences were impactful for their own growth in making effective decisions regarding supervisory models/approaches, techniques and formats. Supervisees’ behavior, personality characteristics and clinical potential were factors that impacted the supervisor’s perception of the supervisory process and supervisory relationship established on personal perspectives.