Clinical supervisors’ ethical and professional identity behaviors with postgraduate supervisees seeking independent licensure

Figures & data

Table 1. Participant demographics by number and percentage

	Number	Percentage
Female	335	82
Male	76	18
European American	330	80
Hispanic	33	8
African American	30	7
Mixed	11	3
Asian American	6	2
Native American	1	<1
Supervised by licensed counselor	314	76
Supervised by other profession	95	23
Graduated from a CACREP accredited program	219	53
Member of the American Counseling Association	169	41
Member of the State Counseling Association	97	24
Held National Certified Counselor Credential	66	16
Worked in a counseling agency	156	38
Worked in private practice	77	19
Worked in a hospital/clinic	40	9
Worked for the state/federal government	39	9
Worked, but not as a counselor	23	6
Worked in a college setting	22	5
Worked in a K-12 setting	15	4
Reported unemployment	15	4
Worked at a non-profit agency	15	4
Worked in managed care	7	2

Table 2. Correlations between the survey items, sections, and factors

Items by section	Factors
	Counselor specific identity	Supervisor ethical behavior
Meeting state law requirements
Insists on meeting with me for 1 h of face-to-face supervision per week to discuss cases	−.03	.75
Is available to me as needed between scheduled supervision meetings for consultation	−.01	.78
Clearly is concerned about maintaining high ethical standards.	−.11	.95
Models good ethical behavior and practice with clients	−.00	.82
Supervisor’s professional identity behaviors
Is very clear in her/his language about her/his identity as a counselor/professional clinical counselor (as opposed to “therapist;” “psychotherapist;” “psychologist”)	.67	.08
In discussion of cases and/or professional issues, articulates the distinctive approach that we take as counselors (e.g. “As counselors, we would see this problem as …”)	.67	.17
Distinguishes between counselors, social workers, and psychologists when discussing approaches to work with clients	.83	−.02
Expresses pride in the profession of counseling	.79	−.02
Is a member of the American Counseling Association	.11	.17
Is a member of the State Counseling Association	.22	.23
In instances of ethical concerns, references the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics	.56	.29
Supervisor’s encouragement of supervisee’s professional identity
Encourages discussion of my professional growth as a counselor in supervision (as opposed to strict case review)	.39	.49
Encourages me to be clear about my identity as a professional counselor	.87	−.07
Invites me to become more involved in professional activities specific to counseling such as participating in leadership meetings, trainings, community outreach/awareness, etc	.72	−.08
Encourages me to attend counseling conferences to further my professional development	.64	.13
Encourages me to maintain membership in the American Counseling Association	.85	−.08
Encourages me to maintain membership in the State Counseling Association	.89	−.11

Bold values: Significant factor loadings.

Table 3. Participants’ survey responses by survey question

	Mean	SD
Supervisor demonstrating ethical behavior in super
1. Insists on meeting with me for the state mandated supervision requirement per week to discuss cases	4.1	1.3
2. Is available to me as needed between scheduled supervision meetings for consultation	4.3	1.0
3. In instances of ethical concerns, references the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics	3.7	1.6
4. Clearly is concerned about maintaining high ethical standards	4.5	.9
5. Models good ethical behavior and practice with clients as per the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics	4.5	.9
Scale average	21.1	5.7
Supervisor’s professional identity behaviors
1. Is very clear in her/his language about her/his identity as a counselor/professional clinical counselor (as opposed to “therapist;” “psychotherapist;” “psychologist”)	3.2	1.7
2. In discussion of cases and/or professional issues, articulates the distinctive approach that we take as counselors (e.g. “As counselors, we would see this problem as …”)	3.0	1.6
3. Distinguishes between counselors, social workers, and psychologists when discussing approaches to work with clients	2.7	1.7
4. Expresses pride in the profession of counseling	3.6	1.6
5. Is a member of the American Counseling Association	3.2	1.6
6. Is a member of the State Counseling Association	3.0	1.7
Scale average	18.7	9.9
Supervisor’s encouragement of the postgraduate supervisee’s professional identity
1. Encourages discussion of my professional growth as a counselor in supervision (as opposed to strict case review)	4.0	1.3
2. Encourages me to be clear about my identity as a professional counselor	3.0	1.8
3. Encourages me to become involved in professional activities specific to counseling such as participating in leadership meetings, trainings, community outreach/awareness, etc	3.2	1.7
4. Encourages me to attend counseling conferences to further my professional development	3.4	1.7
5. Encourages me to maintain membership in the American Counseling Association	1.8	1.9
6. Encourages me to maintain membership in the State Counseling Association	1.5	1.8
Scale average	16.9	10.2