| The goal of this study was to investigate the experience of the supervisory working alliance as defined by Bordin (1983). Specifically, the study utilized qualitative methods to examine perceptions of the supervision relationship from the perspective of the supervisee. Participants averaged 28.8 years of age, and averaged 3.1 years of graduate training in psychology. Data was collected by means of interview, which consisted of individual, face-to-face, in-depth questions designed to explore the supervisee's experience of the supervisory working alliance. This study addressed two questions: (1) How do supervisees perceive their supervision relationship? (2) What are the factors that contribute to effective and ineffective experiences in supervision? By utilizing the constant comparative method of inductive data analysis, numerous recurring themes emerged from the data. Five major themes and six minor themes emerged from this analysis. Results from the study suggest that effective clinical training requires a supervisor who is structured, goal-oriented, emotionally supportive, and utilizes psychotherapy theory to conceptualize clients and objective techniques (e.g., audiotapes, videotapes) to evaluate the supervisee's therapy performance. The data also suggests that supervisees do not communicate their supervision needs or dissatisfaction to their supervisor for fear of a negative evaluation. The results are understood and discussed in terms of how they relate to existing research and literature. Clinical implications are also discussed. The data provided by this study may serve as a foundation for future research, as well as provide a rationale and direction for those subsequent studies. |
