Supervisee attachment: Relationship to the alliance and disclosure in supervision

Joshua E Gunn, Purdue University

Abstract

This study examined how trainee attachment to the supervisor is related to the supervisory working alliance and to disclosure in supervision. Counselors-in-training (N = 480) completed the (a) Attachment to Supervisor Scale, (b) Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory-Trainee, and (c) Disclosure in Supervision Scale. Structural equation modeling tested the following hypotheses: (a) Supervisee secure attachment to the supervisor would be associated with higher levels of disclosure in supervision, mediated by the Rapport (i.e., bond) and Client Focus (i.e., goals and tasks) components of the supervisory working alliance; (b) Supervisee secure attachment to the supervisor would be associated with higher ratings of the Rapport component of the supervisory working alliance; and (c) Supervisee secure attachment to the supervisor would be associated with higher ratings of the Client Focus component of the supervisory working alliance. The best fitting model indicated that higher attachment security is related to increased disclosure, partially mediated by the supervisory working alliance. Higher attachment security was also associated with higher levels of Rapport and Client Focus. The results suggest that trainee disclosure can be increased by facilitating increased attachment security and Rapport, and provide a better understanding of the learning relationship that forms between trainees and their supervisors.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Pistole, Purdue University.

Subject Area

School counseling

COinS