Issues in Supervision and Consultation: Boundary issues with supervisee incompetence

This chapter explores multiple roles and relationships in supervision. A number of guest contributors to the chapter have shared their thoughts on boundary considerations in cases involving supervisee incompetence, and types of boundary concerns for supervisors of addictions counselors. Protecting client welfare is a supervisor's main responsibility. There is an inherent duality in the supervisory relationship, and the complexity of the supervisory role can create unique boundary issues. This chapter reviews the literature on these issues. It highlights the implicit duality that exists in the supervisor-supervisee relationship and discusses the difficulties in determining where the boundary lies between supervision and counseling. The chapter explores the conflicts that occur when a consultant attempts to function in the dual role of consultant and counselor or consultant and supervisor. The dual role of consultant and supervisor should be avoided because supervision involves evaluation and thus violates the peer nature of the consultation relationship.