Gender‐related events in psychotherapy supervision: Female trainee perspectives

Abstract A gender‐related event is an interaction, process, or event in psychotherapy supervision that the trainee felt was directly or indirectly related to, or influenced by: (a) the trainee's sex or the client's sex, (b) the social construction of gender, or (c) stereotypes and assumptions of gender roles. Gender‐related events were studied for 111 female trainees. Approximately half (48%) of the reported events were considered supportive. The two most frequently reported supportive gender‐related events were when supervisors discussed an academic conceptualization of a client integrating gender, or processed gender‐related transference and countertransference issues with their trainees. The most common non‐supportive gender‐related events included those where supervisors made comments based on stereotypes of the trainee or when supervisors dismissed a gender‐related conversation initiated by the trainee. Content and frequency of supportive and non‐supportive gender‐related events were significantly related to the supervisory alliance as well as the frequency of trainee self‐disclosure.