Chapter 14
Supervision and Consultation
Focus Questions
1. How are counseling, supervision, and consultation similar? How are they different
from each other?
Points instructors may want to make:
• They are similar in that counselors, counselor supervisors, and consultants
o Meet individually or in groups with clients, supervisees, or consultees;
2. What would you do if you believed your clinical supervisor was not competent to
provide you with quality supervision services?
Points instructors may want to make:
• If you were a graduate student, it probably would be best to discuss the situation with
3. As a beginning counselor, in what circumstances do you think you might seek
consultation? In what circumstances do you think others might come to you for
consultation?
Points instructors may want to make:
• You probably will be seeking the consultation of others when
In-Class Activity
Title: Trying on the Consultant Hat
Learning
Goal: To begin the process of thinking, interacting, investigating, and planning from the perspective of a
professional consultant.
Procedures: Group students into pairs. For five minutes, ask student A to describe to his or
her partner, student B, an organization (e.g., business, school, agency) that student A
knows fairly well that has at least one major problem or challenge. The setting
Discussion
Questions: What were the key points you learned from this exercise? How were you
different in your approach to the problem as a consultant than how you might have
acted in your role as a professional counselor?
Point/Counterpoint (Debate) Topics
Title: Relationship Boundaries in Supervision
Learning
Goal: To evaluate the considerations that must be taken into account when managing
the boundaries of the supervisory relationship.
Allow the groups to confer for 2 minutes and then have each group present its rebuttal
to the other group’s argument. Have the class members who served as the audience
vote for which side was most persuasive.
Title: Credentials and Experience of Supervisors
Learning
Goal: To consider the advantages and disadvantages of supervisors having the same or
different specialty areas than supervisees.
Outside Class Activity
Title: Supervisor Interview
Learning
Goal: To facilitate an opportunity for a supervisor in training to “get–to–know” the supervision experiences
and approaches of an experienced supervisor. This exercise will facilitate networking and collegial
connection.
Procedures: Select an experienced clinical supervisor and spend some time with the
supervisor getting to know his or her role as a supervisor. Your time together may
Topic for Self-Reflection/Journaling
Topic: Reflect on the characteristics you want in a supervisor, when you are completing your
post-master’s supervision experience toward your licensure or certification. What are
supervision experience for you?
Case Study
Darla is a master’s-level counseling student just beginning her internship. She has multiple
supervisors — an on-site supervisor, a group supervisor at the university, and a different
individual supervisor at the university. Her individual and group university supervisors are
Case Study Discussion
What are the group supervisor’s responsibilities, liability, and necessary actions? What
legal and ethical issues add complexity to this situation? What are important guidelines for this
situation? What would you do and why? An on-site supervisor has the ultimate responsibility
1. Discuss the challenges and benefits of consultation. Describe two different possible
consultation situations. Be sure to include examples that demonstrate potential approaches
to handling the issues involved.