MSUPE Discussed the Role of Supervision in a Psychologist's Professional Activity
On October 9, the second part of the lecture "Supervision in the Practical Activity of a Psychologist" took place at the MSUPE public lecture hall "Vector PSY." The meeting was dedicated to the methodological foundations of supervision, various formats of its conduct, as well as practical and ethical aspects of supervisory interaction. The lecture was delivered by Darya Alexandrovna Krasilo, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Developmental Psychology named after Professor L.F. Obukhova, Faculty of Educational Psychology, MSUPE, practicing clinical and psychoanalytic psychologist.
Darya Alexandrovna presented supervision as an important tool for a psychologist's professional development, allowing for the analysis of complex cases of practical work, comprehension of one's own professional reactions, and improvement of the quality of psychological assistance. The discussion centered on the methodological foundations of supervision.
The speaker noted that from the standpoint of the phenomenological approach, the supervisory process was considered through the description and interpretation of conscious and unconscious phenomena arising in professional interaction. Special attention at the lecture was paid to transference and countertransference, their various manifestations and role in understanding therapeutic relationships.
A significant part of the discussion was devoted to the differences between individual and group supervision, intervision, and Balint groups. Darya Alexandrovna characterized in detail the possibilities of each format, highlighting their significance for professional self-development, mastering new approaches, discussing complex client cases, and preventing emotional burnout.
Individual supervision was considered separately, allowing the psychologist to focus on their own professional request, receive structured feedback from an expert, and discover "blind spots" in their practice. When discussing group supervision, special attention was paid to the exchange of professional experience, the development of professional identity and communication skills, and the creation of a supportive professional environment.
An important topic was the conditions for the effectiveness of group work: regularity of meetings, structured discussion, constructive feedback, psychological safety, and confidentiality. Also professional ethics and the distinction between supervision and personal psychotherapy. It was emphasized that the subject of supervisory work is primarily the professional activity of the psychologist, whereas the personal difficulties of the specialist identified require recourse to personal therapy.
The practical block of the lecture was devoted to the organization of the supervisory process. Participants became acquainted with the principles of forming the setting, the scheme for presenting a client case, and the main stages of group supervision — from preparation and formulation of the request to discussion of the case, receiving feedback, and concluding the meeting.
The lecture was addressed to bachelor's, specialist, and master's students, as well as practicing psychologists interested in professional development and improving the quality of psychological assistance.
Lecture materials: