The impact of organisational culture on an intern clinical psychologist’s subjective experience of internship supervision: An Autoethnographic Approach

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of organisational culture on intern clinical psychologists’ subjective experience of clinical supervision within the context of post-colonial South Africa, where there is a lack of formal training and monitoring for clinical psychology internship supervision. The research aimed to explore how organisational culture and broader systemic factors, such as historical and sociological influences, shape clinical supervision. Retrospective reflections on clinical supervisory encounters and reflexivity were employed to critically examine these dynamics. An autoethnographic methodology was adopted, combining evocative and analytical autoethnography and utilising a personal narrative that offers insight into internship training and a critical analysis of clinical supervision. The researcher positioned as both subject and researcher utilised this approach to interpret the organisational culture surrounding clinical psychology supervision. Systems theory and Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory were the primary frameworks for analysing the systemic impact on organisational culture in clinical psychology internship training. Data were collected through journaling, which facilitated deep self-exploration and thematic analysis. The analysis identified three major themes: Power Dynamics and Hierarchy, Erosion of Professional Identity, and Humanistic Approach to Training and Emotional Wellbeing. The findings highlight a critical tension between Euro-American and African-centred organisational cultures in clinical psychology training, with recommendations for integrating an African-centred approach to clinical psychology supervision training.