THE EFFECT OF THE TIMING OF COUNSELOR SUPERVISION SESSIONS ON SUPERVISOR AND COUNSELOR PERFORMANCE AND ON COUNSELOR AND CLIENT SATISFACTION
Abstract
A review of counseling supervision literature revealed that little research has been conducted on counselor supervision. The question posed in this study was whether the timing of supervision sessions changed the nature of supervision and counseling. Specifically, this study was designed to investigate whether significant differences existed among three treatment groups (T1 = supervision within four hours before counseling, T2 = supervision the day before counseling, and T3 = supervision more than two days before counseling) in terms of their effect on: (1) supervisor performance in supervision, (2) counselor performance in supervision, (3) counselor performance in counseling, (4) client satisfaction with counseling, (5) counselor satisfaction with counseling, and (6) counselor satisfaction with supervision. Seven supervisors, 21 counselors, and 32 clients volunteered to participate in the study. From this pool of personnel, 63 supervisor-counselor-client subject-systems were formed. A total of 54 of these systems received treatment. Prior to treatment administration, a supervisor observed a counselor and client interact in a counseling session. The supervisor then conducted a supervision (treatment) session with the counselor to discuss the observed counseling session. Supervision sessions were systematically scheduled in relation to the next counseling session involving the same counselor and client. The order in which treatments were assigned was randomized. All supervision and counseling sessions were audio-taped. Five independent raters were trained to rate data associated with supervision tapes. The seven supervisors were trained to rate tapes of counseling sessions. Each group of raters achieved interrater reliability based on a reliability coefficient of .80. Two seven-point Likert-type scales were constructed to measure counselor satisfaction with supervision and counselor satisfaction with counseling. A panel of experts determined that the items in each scale were valid. Items were found to be reliable based on a test-retest reliability coefficient of .70. Client satisfaction with counseling was measured by the Counseling Evaluation Inventory (Linden, Stone, & Shertzer, 1965). Data for this study were collected during the Fall 1980 semester and the Spring 1981 semester. A series of ANOVA, chi-square tests, and cross-tabulation matrices were used to analyze the data. Results suggested that supervision sessions conducted the day before counseling yielded a high volume of information. Most information in these sessions was generated by the supervisor. The focus of sessions was viewed as conceptual in nature. Results also suggested that supervision sessions conducted within four hours before counseling yielded less information, but that it was more specific in nature. These sessions were seen as being primarily behavioral in focus. Also, counselors implemented more approved strategies from supervision when supervision was conducted within four hours before counseling. Implications were discussed and future research was recommended.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Academic guidance counseling
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.