The Peer Supervision Group as Clinical Research Device: Analysis of a Group Experience

This paper reports on the work of a peer supervision group engaged in simultaneous research and clinical supervision. During an 18-month period, the group met to discuss 22 individual treatments of people diagnosed with psychosomatic disorders to identify common patterns of resistance and to assist therapists to effectively manage resistance. The aim of the present study was to identify and better understand psychological challenges the group experienced during this research process and its impact on their capacity to work effectively in their tasks. Supervision meetings were recorded and two types of qualitative analyses, derived from the work of Pichon-Rivière and Bion, were performed to study the group work and processes. Analysis showed fluctuations and compromise formations between the tendency to work objectively and to regress during critical periods of the research process. Factors that pulled the group in both directions are identified and discussed. We believe many of the processes observed in this study are applicable to other peer supervision groups. An understanding of such group processes is likely to enhance group work.