Journal article
Managing Emotion in Clinical Supervision Through Oller-Vallejo's Model of Ego States
Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, Vol.First online, pp.1-9
27/06/2026
PMID: 42365433
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Aim: This paper examines the value of Oller-Vallejo's (2001) ego state model as a framework for understanding emotional dynamics in mental health nursing clinical supervision, and its integration with Proctor's (1986) model of supervision.
Background: Mental health nursing is characterised by high emotional demand, relational complexity and exposure to psychological distress. Clinical supervision is increasingly recognised as essential for supporting emotional well-being, professional development and safe practice. However, there remains a need for more psychologically informed frameworks to better understand the emotional processes occurring within supervisory relationships.
Method: This paper adopts a conceptual, theory-informed approach, drawing on published literature relating to ego state theory and clinical supervision models. A narrative synthesis is used to explore how these frameworks can be integrated to enhance understanding of emotional processes in supervision.
Discussion: The ego state concepts of caregiving, caregetting and individuating are used to explore emotional roles and relational dynamics within supervision. These are considered alongside Proctor's (1986) restorative, formative and normative functions of supervision. The integration of these models provides a structured way to understand emotional containment, dependency, autonomy and professional development within supervisory relationships in mental health nursing.
Conclusion: The paper proposes that combining ego state theory with established supervision models offers a psychologically informed framework for enhancing clinical supervision. This has implications for supporting emotional resilience, improving reflective practice and strengthening workforce well-being and sustainability in mental health nursing.
Details
- Title
- Managing Emotion in Clinical Supervision Through Oller-Vallejo's Model of Ego States
- Creators
- Paul Linsley - University of East AngliaJohn Hurley - Southern Cross University
- Publication Details
- Journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing, Vol.First online, pp.1-9
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Grant note
- Open access publishing facilitated by Southern Cross University, as partof the Wiley - Southern Cross University agreement via the Council of Australasian University Librarians
- Identifiers
- 991013386652002368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Academic Unit
- Nursing; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article