| The phenomenological study explored the themes associated with the supervision experiences of Master in Counseling interns enrolled in either distance or traditional learning programs. With an emphasis on how supervision is delivered in both formats, findings revealed that the nature of the training background of the supervisor, not the supervisee, tended to be more closely related to the perceived quality of the supervision experience. Findings were based on eight primary themes that emerged following a content analysis of eight supervision transcripts. Results indicated that the nature of the supervisor's training tended to be related to the level of supervisory intervention and the manner in which supervision is delivered. Successful delivery of supervision is an essential component in the training of counselors, requiring specific skills and preparation (Bernard & Goodyear, 2004). When the supervisor was affiliated with Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation, the supervision experience appeared to be enhanced in this study. It appears that the quality of the supervision experiences of Master in Counseling interns is more frequently related to the training of their respective supervisors and not the context of their own learning. Results of this study are encouraging for both distance learning counseling programs and CACREP accreditation. The methodology, findings, limitations, implications, and recommendations for future research are discussed. |
