ABSTRACT
Almost all mental health professionals know that Sigmund Freud was a strong analytic thinker and that, as an expression of this, he invented psychoanalysis. Similarly, most know that Carl Rogers was a strongly intuitive and relational person and that, as an expression of this, he invented person-centered therapy. Experienced clinical supervisors know that the components of a philosophy of clinical supervision include much more than what they may believe about conducting mental health care. If clinicians have a clear conceptualization about what mental health care is, they likely presume to hold a conceptualization of what it is that they are treating. This may be variously identified as “mental illness,” “mental disorder,” “emotional disturbance,” “heightened or intense stress,” or other commonly and professionally used terms. Understanding a mental disorder starts where most individuals or families begin. In short, something happens that grabs the attention of an individual or a family.
