Supervision in Clinical Neuropsychology

Supervision in Clinical Neuropsychology Abstract: How does supervision in clinical neuropsychology function as a complement to supervision in other psychotherapeutic fields? Supervision in neuropsychology often focuses on understanding the neuropsychological findings: How are different cognitive impairments and resources related to each other and how are they best classified based on etiology and functional neuroanatomy? On this basis, therapeutic goals and methods are selected and applied. In addition, this means considering the institutional framework conditions as well as personal relationships. The therapeutic procedure is examined and, if necessary, adapted. Supervision may help to understand the extent to which barriers in the therapeutic process are indicators of barriers in the therapeutic relationship or the personality of the therapist. The goal of supervision therefore, is to support the development of a reflected therapeutic personality. By doing so, the supervisor is also a teacher who promotes the quality assurance of the therapeutic process and enables reflection on personal strengths and weaknesses as well as personal attitudes. The paper concludes that most supervisors in neuropsychology are currently self-taught, as there are hardly any defined methods or curricula, neither in Germany nor internationally. In the context of the reform of advanced training in clinical neuropsychology in Germany, the paper serves to initiate a discussion not only concerning the content of the advanced training itself, but also concerning the characteristics, methods, and content of supervision in clinical neuropsychology.