The Emergence of Shame in Counselling and Clinical Psychology Supervision: A Narrative Analysis

Theoretical research demonstrates that shame is inevitable in supervision as a consequence of exposing one’s clinical errors and personal limitations whilst being evaluated. Despite this, shame in supervision has been inadequately addressed in the past. Previous research on the subject has also been mainly quantitative in nature. The present study employs a qualitative approach and a narrative research design in order to capture the experiences of the participants. This approach, which is more open and meaning-oriented than quantitative research, seemed best suited to investigating a concept that is both elusive and difficult to define. Semistructured interviews with six qualified psychologists (four clinical psychologists and two counselling psychologists; five females, one male) were conducted tomgather narrative data. Results of the analysis are presented individually to represent the distinctive features of participants’ experiences and narratives. In addition, a content analysis identified three overarching themes common to all participants: unwanted identities, power dynamics and narcissistic vulnerabilities. Discussion focus on these themes all of which contribute to the emergence of shame. The analysis suggests that shame arises in interaction as a sudden, debilitating force when there is perceived or actual negative judgement of the self by others. The narratives highlight that the participants’ stories remain unresolved, primarily as a consequence of the difficulty of speaking about shame. Implications for supervisory practice are discussed.