Integrating educational and experiential elements in psychotherapy group supervision

A new model of group supervision for psychiatric residents in their first years is presented, aiming to fulfill both their experiential and educational needs. Case presentations were the basis for discussing the complex aspects of the doctor-patient relationship and issues of identity. The group ran for five years and the presented vignettes illustrate its evolution from a patient-oriented stage to a therapist-oriented stage. Sharing of doubts and fears in relation to their new professional tasks was made possible for the young residents through this process. The group leader roles as a tolerant figure who encouraged openness and genuineness on the one hand and as a supervisor who kept the boundaries on the other hand were central to the success of this group.