Some new thoughts about the real relationship in psychoanalytic supervision

The real relationship in psychoanalytic supervision is largely theoretically unchartered. It can be defined as those aspects of the relationship that fall out of the usual frame of transference-countertransference dynamics and the working alliance. This means that the real relationship implies an encounter between the two people that is personal, genuine, real and thus devoid of projections. I wish to explore what little is known about the real relationship in supervision. This implies a brief review of the literature on the real relationship in the analytic relationship because what is known about the real relationship in supervision has its roots in what is known about the real relationship in the analytic relationship. However, what little is known about the real relationship in supervision is also described. I also set out to describe how such a real relationship may take shape in supervision by presenting a few case examples, and in sodoing, I offer some new thoughts that extend the scant research in this area. These new thoughts are that the real relationship; 1) means that one responds to what is being said from the lived-experience of the immediacy of the moment, 2) is based on an engagement of not thinking from a head space but from an uncensored heart, 3) the experience at hand is validated, and 4) facilitates personal growth, 5) enables a rapport which is important because this is what supports the development of the working alliance, and without it, there is no working alliance.