Interrogation in clinical supervision sessions: Exploring the construction of clinical psychology trainees’ professional identities

Background: Professional socialisation is a complex process through which learners become healthcare professionals. This process occurs in relational spaces: learners are exposed to norms and expectations of them in interactions during formal and informal learning activities. Research exploring socialisation into the healthcare professions is extensive yet inadequately captures details of the actual processes of socialisation and forming of professional identity. Our study offers a moment-by-moment examination of clinical psychology trainee supervision to provide a deeper exploration of novice healthcare professionals’ identity development within formal educational interactions. Aims: We sought to explore how, and in what ways, supervision interactions impact clinical psychology trainees’ professional identity development. Method: Our data comprises 12 audio recordings of supervisor-trainee interactions in a clinical psychology training clinic. Initial data engagement identified 20 instances of interrogation instigated by supervisors (i.e., repetitive questioning, enquiry) as being key events in which identities are contested and re-negotiated. These sections were transcribed verbatim. Drawing on positioning, framing and impression management theories, we explored identity construction in interrogations using discourse analysis. Results: Supervisors approached interrogations of trainees from either a quality control or a reflective frame focusing on the client or trainee respectively. These frames influenced the positions being made available to trainees. Reflective frame interrogations often defaulted back to quality control. Trainees employed impression management tactics to manage perceived face-threat. Discussion: Findings highlight challenges with maintaining a reflective space in supervision during interrogations. Supervisors had authority to initiate interrogations that could be taken up, negotiated or resisted by trainees, ultimately maintaining certain professional knowledge and truths. We illuminate the ways in which socialisation processes at the interactional level during formal learning activities ultimately make available (and restrict) certain ways for trainees to think, feel and be.