Multicultural aspects of supervision: Considerations for South African supervisors in the helping professions

Abstract

This paper examines the literature pertaining to multicultural supervision in the helping professions and applies it to relationships between clinical supervisors and their supervisees in the helping professions in South Africa. An operational definition of this form of clinical exchange is offered and a summary of existing models is presented. Various problems inherent in multicultural supervision are described and tentative recommendations are offered. It is argued that the dynamics ofpower and hegemony are more salient variables in determining the nature of the multicultural supervisory relationship than the reductionist concepts of race and ethnicity. Finally, implications for future research in the area are identified.