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An Aspect of Live Supervision: The Pathological Triangle
Author(s) -
Westheafer Charles
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
australian journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1467-8438
pISSN - 0156-8779
DOI - 10.1002/j.1467-8438.1984.tb00146.x
Subject(s) - supervisor , pathological , hierarchy , metaphor , psychology , social psychology , medicine , pathology , political science , theology , law , philosophy
A model of live supervision is developed that asserts that when live supervision is ineffective in producing change in the trainee's behaviour and consequently in the family's problem behaviour, this can be the result of the formation of a pathological triangle in the therapeutic system, consisting of the family, the trainee and the supervisor. The pathological triangle, with its incongruent hierarchy, is seen as a defence against issues of attachment‐detachment in the supervisor and the trainee. The triangle formed in the therapeutic system is characterised by the same systemic metaphor as that presented by the family. Intervening in. and disrupting the triangle is seen as resolving issues of attachment‐detachment in the therapeutic members. The role of the live supervisor and the supervisor of supervision is discussed.