Nursing research has focused on evaluating the effectiveness of clinical supervision, but there remains uncertainty as to what facets of clinical supervision are potent in realising effectiveness.

This book reports on an investigation on the practice of clinical supervision in mental health nursing. Incorporating three case studies, it illuminates the reciprocal interactions between clinical supervisor and supervisee. While the book uncovers a number of limitations in the process of clinical supervision and gaps in mental health nurses’ level of competence in interpersonal relations it provides a basis for a more critical approach to this important element of professional development.

Graham Sloan is a Clinical Specialist in Cognitive Psychotherapy and works in Consulting and Clinical Psychology Services, NHS Ayrshire and Arran. He completed his PhD in May 2004 studying with the School of Nursing,Midwifery and Community Health, Glasgow Caledonian University. He has had several papers relating to clinical supervision and cognitive and behavioural psychotherapy published in the recent nursing literature and has presented at international conferences. He provides clinical supervision to mental health nurses, cognitive and behavioural psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists and provides education on clinical supervision and CBP within the Trust. He is also employed as a Visiting Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University.