Horizon of expectation and transitional space Thoughts on psychoanalytic supervision

With the terms horizon of expectation and transitional space mentioned in the title, some basic features of the psychoanalytic cure are named. They serve as a starting point to describe the mode as well as the goal of psychoanalytic supervision. Supervision works on and with the transitional space and horizon of expectation, helps the therapist to establish them or expand them. The term supervision is subjected to a critical revision. The psychodynamic factors that have to be dealt with in supervision are presented, especially the transference and countertransference processes taking place in the supervisory relationship but also other pitfalls that can endanger supervision and that must be taken into account. Instead of a summarizing closing remark a very old Chinese story is told and used to characterize the role of supervision in psychotherapy.