Six experienced counsellors in New Zealand participated in semi-structured interviews and reflected on how solution-focused supervision could meet their needs for clinical supervision. The participating counsellors all use a solution-focused approach to some extent within their practice. The thesis describes whether, and how, these counsellors found solution-focused supervision useful for their professional practice and how it was used in their clinical supervision. This qualitative study takes a social constructionist stance, and a solution-focused approach framed the interview guide. Mind maps and a thematic analytic frame were used to organise and analyse the data.

Clinical counselling supervision based on a solution-focused approach can, according to the results of this study, have a valuable role in meeting the needs of securing safe and effective professional counselling practice and supplying restorative support. The study also suggests that solution-focused supervision can be a useful resource for ongoing professional growth and development. The importance of the supervisory relationship stands out, and the participants’ detailed description of how a solution-focused approach was used in their supervision can inspire both counsellors and their supervisors. In addition to the positive findings, the study also described limitations in the use of a solution-focused approach in counselling supervision, including a need to give sufficient time and attention to the issue brought into supervision.

Based on this study, further research is worthwhile to explore the role of solution-focused supervision. Further research into how solution-focused supervision might be useful for counsellors working from other modalities and whether different supervisory modalities present variations in the significance of the positive supervisory relationship is also suggested. Further research on a potential positive client outcome of solution-focused supervision is tentatively suggested. Implications for supervisors and counsellors are discussed, and more research using thematic analysis and mind maps is recommended.