Dimensions That Characterize Supervisor Interventions Delivered in the Context of Live Supervision of Practicum Counselors

This study empirically examined underlying dimensions from actual supervisory statements taken from interventions occurring during live supervision of counseling interviews. Twenty-seven supervisor interventions were identified and transcribed from the 3rd and 4th counseling sessions of 16 counseling dyads. Twenty-six judges sorted and rated these transcribed interventions. Multidimensional scaling revealed 6 dimensions that characterized the supervisor interventions. The dimensions were interpreted as (a) Directing-Instructing Versus Deepening, (b) Cognitive Clarification Versus Emotional Encouragement, (c) Confronting Versus Encouraging the Client, (d) Didactic-Distant Versus Emotionally Involved, (e) Joining With Versus Challenging the Trainee, and (f) Providing Direction Versus Resignation. The findings are discussed in relation to the supervision literature.