Abstract

This paper examines the literature on electronic supervisions and explores the importance of prior contact or relationships for effective electronic supervision. This study analyzes the past oversights, modern context and future trends in this field. This paper additionally provides specific practical guidelines for participants in e-supervisions. Videoconferencing supervisions need to be differentiated from other types of e-supervision so that they can be analyzed and discussed as a separate modality. While current data might not be sufficient to definitively refute the necessity of prior contact in e-supervision, recent trends and findings suggest that prior contact may not have such a significant role, contrary to previous claims. In the context of this study, it is crucial to emphasize that advocating for the complete substitution of one form of supervision with another is not the intent. Instead, the key message is that no form of supervision should be regarded as inferior to another, especially when it comes to individual supervisions. The study highlights the potential success of individual videoconferencing supervisions without pre-established in-person relationships, especially when supervisors and supervisees are digital natives.