Where Have All the Supervisors Gone? Practical Tips for Recruiting Psychotherapy Supervisors

Psychotherapy supervision is an essential aspect of psychiatric residency training, and it is critical in supporting the identity of a psychiatrist as a psychotherapist. However, the number of faculty available to provide psychotherapy supervision, especially in specific modalities, such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, has been significantly reduced. Furthermore, the number of practicing psychiatrists is anticipated to decline, narrowing the supervision pool. Recruiting and retaining psychotherapy supervisors has also become more challenging as compensation models emphasize relative value units. This article describes strategies for developing a robust psychotherapy supervisor pool and helping graduate psychiatric educators to manage the economic, malpractice, and credentialing challenges that the present climate entails. These strategies include recruiting both internally and externally, recruiting supervisors from other disciplines, training advanced residents to supervise, incentivizing external supervisors, and developing a shared curriculum. The development of these relationships and resources will allow training programs to continue to provide outstanding supervision.