Constructing and Maintaining Appropriate Boundaries within Clinical Supervision Relationships

Considerable literature on the relationship between supervisor and supervisee has emerged in the last decade. Much of this literature, however, has examined the relationship that occurs between psychologist and psychology supervisee. In the domain of speech-language pathology and audiology, there is a paucity of information and data. Thus, in response to the limited body of work in the field, the authors hope to first spark discussion around the topic of boundaries within the relationship between clinical supervisors and supervisees. One theoretical model, the “slippery slope,” is presented as a means to understand boundary crossing behavior in the clinical supervision context. The second objective of this article is to explore the working alliance or the working relationship that occurs between a supervisee and a supervisor. Given the multiple roles that a supervisor plays in the life of the supervisee, mentee, and finally colleague, it is likely that at some point, in one of these roles, that the supervisor and/or the supervisee will be faced with a difficult boundary situation. This article is proposed in response to the call from researchers and practitioners who have suggested that one response to addressing boundary violations and boundary crossings is a frank and open discussion.