New Books in Psychology Nancy McWilliams, "Psychoanalytic Supervision" (Guilford Publications, 2021)
Nov 30, 2025
Nancy McWilliams, a distinguished psychoanalyst with a wealth of experience in psychotherapy and supervision, shares her insights on the intricacies of psychoanalytic supervision. She discusses the supervisor's role in fostering therapist growth, navigating ethical dilemmas, and the importance of creating a safe space for candid conversations. McWilliams emphasizes the dual nature of supervision as both intimate education and a professional challenge, highlighting the complexities of managing transference and supervising trainees. Her reflections on supervision after significant patient events add depth to the conversation.
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Supervision As Professional Formation
- Supervision shapes therapists' professional growth beyond teaching techniques and often ranks second only to personal analysis in influence.
- Nancy McWilliams argues supervision is transformative, not merely skill transmission.
Safety Before Skill
- Supervision must create psychological safety so supervisees can report mistakes and secrets.
- McWilliams emphasizes that making supervisees feel safe is often the primary goal of supervision.
Structure Case Presentations
- Orient each supervision case by stating the presenting problem, therapy background, and key patient history first.
- Listen to tone, body language, and your affect to extract themes beyond the words.
