ABSTRACT
This article presents a qualitative study of New Zealand social work practitioners’ experiences as supervisees. This study was part of a wider mixed-methods study of social work supervision. The aims of the paper were to explore how social work practitioners developed their understanding, participation, and use of supervision, and how their histories influenced their development and behaviour as supervisees. Sixteen participants were interviewed regarding their supervision histories. These histories were thematically analysed. Results showed that practitioners developed their understanding, participation in, and use of supervision over time. In addition, their supervision histories influenced their development and behaviour as supervisees both positively and negatively. These findings provide a starting point for further research into theorising about supervision from the supervisee’s perspective and encouraging practitioners and supervisors to consider the influence that supervision histories have within their supervision.
