Abstract
The focus of this paper was to investigate the process of the dependence on the supervision. We found that therapists who had been restored independence during the supervising process tended to do the same for their clients and used more original therapeutic practices. There appeared to be four phases in the supervision process: (1) absolute dependence on the supervisor, (2) emergence of relative dependence on the supervisor, (3) formation of the relative dependence on the supervisor, and (4) establishment of the relative dependence on the supervisor. The results showed that therapists who had had their own independence restored during this process were more likely to help their clients to restore independence in the psychotherapy process. We believe that therapists who had established relative dependence on their supervisor could begin learning appropriate psychodynamic interventions. In other words, it was necessary for therapists to enter into the relative dependence phase from the phase of absolute dependence in order for them to start psychodynamic interventions.
