Counselor Education

Structuring the Supervision Session

Research has shown that less experienced supervisees are more likely to focus on case conceptualization, prefer more structured supervision with more of a preference for supervisor directiveness (Winter & Holloway, 1991; Tracey, Ellickson, & Sherry, 1989; Wetchler & Vaughn, 1991, in Bernard & Goodyear, 1998).

More experienced interns will likely pursue issues of enhancing personal growth (Winter & Holloway, 1991 in Bernard & Goodyear, 1998).

It is the task of the supervisor to provide a balanced structure to the supervision session. One suggestion for initiating this structure comes from a form produced by Dr. Hildy Getz at Virginia Tech. This format allows for a balance of both exploration of case conceptualization as well as focusing on goals and personal growth. This supervision session structure used by university supervisors with the interns at Virginia Tech is outlined below. You may wish to tailor it to suit your needs as the internship progresses.

1. Information about the counseling case: presenting problem, history of presenting problem, previous attempts at problem solution, important information about the counselee etc. Include information about how Counselor’s and Client’s cultural lens may influence their perspectives of the presenting issues. (5 minutes suggested time)
2. Counseling plan: goals, action step, desired outcomes. (5 minutes suggested time)
3. Counselor's actions: name techniques, skills, strategies, interventions. (5 minutes suggested time)
4. Counselor's self-awareness: thoughts, feelings about client, about self, about the counseling process. (5 minutes suggested time)
5. Counselor request to supervisor- I need help with _____(5 minutes suggested time)
6. Watch/listen to video/audio tape. (15 minutes suggested time)

Supervisor/Supervision Group should be prepared to do the following:

1. Give feedback about counselor strengths first and then areas needing improvement.
2. Give feedback about the counseling case and future counseling direction.

After all feedback from supervisor/supervisor group, determine:

a. Future direction for the case: goals, action steps, evidence.

b. Future goals for counselor: goals, action steps, evidence.