Distance supervision as experienced by occupational therapists in mental health: An interpretative phenomenological study.
Rebecca Matson, Jo Linforth, Chris Edge
PMID 40336710WHAT IT FOUND
Occupational therapists in mental health settings found distance supervision offered flexibility and reduced travel, but often felt it was less personal and harder to protect from interruptions.
The strength of the relationship with the supervisor mattered more than whether the session was virtual or face-to-face.
Key findings
01Participants reported that distance supervision sessions often became more focused on completing forms and less on personal connection, with some feeling unable to discuss issues beyond the allocated time slot.
02The virtual medium allowed some therapists to feel safer disclosing difficult emotions because they could control what their supervisor saw, while others felt it prevented the supervisor from fully understanding their distress.
03Supervision via distance means was more likely to be cancelled or interrupted, and participants expressed concern that their supervisors might be distracted or multitasking during sessions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only six participants from a single private organisation, so the findings cannot be generalised to the wider profession or different healthcare settings. Half of the participants also provided supervision, which may have influenced their responses and shifted the focus away from the supervisee experience. Demographic data was not collected to protect anonymity, so it is unclear how factors like years of experience or specific roles influenced the findings.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Cygnet Healthcare, the private organisation where the participants worked. The lead researcher had previously worked in this organisation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that distance supervision is less effective than face-to-face supervision. The study describes experiences and preferences, not outcomes like staff retention or patient care quality, and the small sample size means these themes may not apply to every therapist or setting.