An internship/SWE supervisor may not be an employee of which entity?

An internship or supervisory experience in the field of psychology is designed to provide guidance and support to the supervisee while ensuring ethical standards and boundaries are maintained. It’s essential that the supervisor maintains an appropriate professional distance from the supervisee’s interests and influences.

The correct answer here is that the supervisor may not be an employee of an agency headed by the supervisee. This situation poses a conflict of interest, as the supervisee could experience undue influence from a supervisor who has direct control over their work environment or position. This represents a fundamental principle in ethical supervision: the need for objectivity and the avoidance of situations where power dynamics could potentially exploit or undermine the supervisee's educational and professional development.

To provide a brief context for the other options: An agency that has no interest in the supervisee or a government entity does not inherently present a conflict, as they can offer supervised experiences that are aligned with educational goals without power imbalances. Likewise, the supervisor's previous employer does not automatically indicate an ethical concern unless there is a direct conflict regarding the supervision process or expectations. Thus, the unique dynamic inherent in a relationship where the supervisee's authority comes from the supervisor’s position necessitates clear separations to uphold ethical standards in education and training within the psychology