Telesupervision in counselling and psychotherapy: a systematic review of the literature

Although the use of telesupervision (technology-assisted supervision) is increasing in line with trends in digital health, this remains to be an under-researched area. This systematic review sought to evaluate the current state of knowledge about counsellors', psychotherapists' and psychologists' perspectives and experiences of receiving clinical supervision online, and to determine specific gaps in the literature. Five themes emerged within the literature review: comparison of telesupervision with in-person supervision; challenges of telesupervision; benefits of telesupervision; components of effective telesupervision and supervisor characteristics. Overall, evidence suggests that supervisory relationship is the key factor in quality and efficacy of supervision, regardless of delivery modality. Recommendations are made for practice, including training both supervisors and supervisees in telesupervision, and future research directions are discussed.