Supervisees' perspectives of power use in supervision.

In this study, we examined the use of power in the supervisory relationship from supervisees' perspectives. Semistructured interviews of 11 supervisees in a Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education training program were conducted. From analysis of interview transcripts, themes about the ways in which supervisors and supervisees used power in the supervisory relationship emerged. Supervisors' power uses included discussions of power, empowering supervisees, promoting an atmosphere of safety, collaborating with supervisees, imposition of style/orientation, and misuses of power, such as violation of confidentiality. Themes for supervisees' power uses included supervisee-peer power, supervisees as consumers, and withholding information. Implications for researchers, supervisors, and supervisees are presented.