Learning to Be Supervisors: A Qualitative Investigation of Difficulties Experienced by Supervisors-in-Training

Abstract

This study examined the challenges and difficulties of supervisors-in-training during the course of providing individual and group supervision to master's-level counseling trainees using both group and individual formats. We interviewed 10 supervisors-in-training regarding their supervisory experiences with master's-level counselor trainees. Data analysis used a variation of the consensual qualitative research method (Hill, Thompson, & Nutt-Williams, 1997). The results included five categories of difficulties: (1) managing the “gatekeeping” role, (2) simultaneously managing multiple processes, (3) experiencing an ongoing attempt at establishing a supervisory stance, (4) self-doubt about their abilities as supervisors, and (5) managing dynamics with their co-supervisors. We discuss some reasons for the training difficulties that the doctoral supervisors-in-training experienced in assuming a new role and offer implications for supervision curricula and training in doctoral programs.

KEYWORDS:

• clinical supervision
• group-format supervision
• supervision processes
• supervisors-in-training
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

This study was part of a larger project that focused on counseling identity, and the participants were also asked about factors that they believed fostered and hindered their professional identities. However, only data related to supervision processes were included in the data analysis reported in the manuscript. The interview protocol is available by contacting the first author.

Notes

Notes. Categories 1 through 4 apply to all 10 participants: “General” refers to categories endorsed by 9 or 10 participants, “Typical” refers to categories that were endorsed by 5 to 8 participants, and “Variant” refers to categories that were endorsed by less than half of the participants (1 to 4). Since only 6 of the participants co-supervised, only these 6 are represented in category 5: “Typical” refers to categories endorsed by half or more (3 or 4) participants and “Variant” refers to categories endorsed by less than half (1 or 2) of the participants.