Supervisory and Counseling Process: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study compared the process of supervision with that of counseling by examining the behavior of five professional therapists in both situations. Counselors recorded their counseling sessions with 10 clients and their supervisory sessions with 10 trainees. A total of 180 three‐minute samples were selected for study. The level of facultative conditions (empathy, respect, genuineness, and specificity) was assessed. The Hill Interaction Matrix was also used to compare the verbal interactions in both counseling and supervising situations. Results indicated that the level of respect and genuineness were equal in the two situations. Contrary to the assumptions made by researchers in the area, the levels of empathy and specificity were significantly lower in supervision than in counseling. When interactions were rated with the Hill Matrix, supervision was significantly less therapeutic than was counseling. The differences found were discussed in terms of their implications for the teaching and learning of psychotherapy, as it related to both the theoretical literature and in terms of its effect on trainees and clients.