| Clinical supervision is vital to counselor education, and the strength of the supervisory alliance
(SA) has been identified as essential for effective supervision. To monitor and facilitate the
strength of the SA, clinical supervision guidelines direct supervisors to request feedback from
trainees about supervision. However, no research exploring the effectiveness of this practice in
supervision was found. This study examines how the frequency and focus of supervisor feedback
requests are related to SA strength. Specifically, this investigation: (a) describes the frequency of
supervisor requests for feedback about the SA; (b) explores the relationship between supervisor
feedback request frequency and SA strength; (c) investigates whether supervisor feedback
request focus (emotional bond and/or goals/tasks) differentially predicts SA strength; and (d)
details the frequency of supervisor requests for feedback about the emotional bond and
goals/tasks. A quantitative, ex post facto, nonexperimental survey design using an anonymous,
web-based, self-report questionnaire was employed. Surveys (N = 805) were completed by
master’s students in CACREP accredited counselor education programs enrolled in practicum or
internship. This study finds that the frequency and focus of supervisor feedback requests have a
significant and meaningful connection to the SA strength. Furthermore, the supervisor feedback
request focus (emotional bond and/or goals/tasks) differentially predicts SA strength.
Descriptions of the type of feedback requests that are positively and negatively related to SA
strength are shared. Additionally, a description of the Trainee-Feedback Informed Supervision
(TFIS) model is provided, and an explanation for why TFIS should be considered integral to
multiculturally-competent supervision is presented.
xv
Keywords: trainee-feedback informed supervision, effective supervision, supervisory
working alliance, supervisor feedback requests, multiculturally-competent supervision |