Providing Relevant and Responsible​ Consulting and Counseling Services

My philosophy of counseling supervision is in line with my philosophy of counseling as well as my philosophy of teaching. The choices we make and our behavior stem from some type of instruction and modeling. My supervisees will be professionally developed through the use of modeling, repetition (practice), and correction or reinforcement of appropriate therapeutic skills and behaviors.

Supervision should consist of identifying the strengths and needs of the supervisee and using that information to guide the development of their goals and objectives over time. It is important for the supervisor to encourage the supervisee to guide the establishment of the goals and objectives throughout this learning process.

Once the unique goals and objectives of the supervision have been developed to address the needs and interests of the supervisee, they must be demonstrated, applied, and then refined in order for them to continue to employ appropriate therapeutic behavior.

The theoretical framework behind my philosophy and model of supervision is a blended approach incorporating both a psychotherapeutic-based model of supervision and a supervision process model. More specifically, I have adopted the cognitive-behavioral supervision approach and the discrimination model of clinical supervision.

In the cognitive-behavioral supervision approach, “supervisors operate on the assumption that realistic evaluation and modification of thinking on the part of the supervisees lead to self-constructed therapeutic behaviors and skills that are coherent, comprehensive, and meaningful to each individual being supervised” (Durham, 2019, p 40).

Through evaluation, education, and intervention, supervisees can enhance their professional function as counselors. There needs to be a collaborative alliance between the supervisor and supervisee in order for the evaluation, education, and intervention to effect change in the supervisees' learning process.

The cognitive behavior-oriented supervision follows four propositions: 1. teach appropriate therapeutic behaviors while addressing and eliminating inappropriate behaviors, 2. assist the supervisee in developing, applying, and refining new skills, 3. recognize that skills are defined in behavioral terms, and 4. employ principles of adult learning theory (Bernard & Goodyear, 2018).

More specifically, I will incorporate a more andragogy approach to teaching new skills to the supervisee. Andragogy is an adult learning theory that suggests that the supervisor should set a cooperative climate for learning; assess the learner’s specific needs and interests; develop supervising objectives based on the supervisee’s needs, interests, and skill levels; design activities to achieve the objectives; work collaboratively with the supervisee, and evaluate the quality of the supervising experience and make adjustments as needed (Knowles, 1984).

Additionally, I will make use of de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats Model (Kivunja, 2015) to assist the supervisee in tackling more challenging cases to empower the supervisee by reinforcing and strengthening the aptitude to critically think and increase problem-solving ability.

Specifically, not exclusively, the use of the “black hat” thinking strategy lines up with the need for counseling professionals to be able to validate logical arguments; check for evidence that supports what is presented; evaluate possible consequences before making a decision; and identify the potential effect on values (Kivunja, 2015).

This approach is shared in a number of ethical decision-making models and will be the premise behind the assessing and development of my supervisees' therapeutic skills, especially as it relates to ethical decision-making. Cognitive-behavioral supervision approach recognizes that change will occur and the change process can be enhanced by the help of a guide who facilitates within the context of the learning environment that is individualized to fit the needs of the supervisee (Bernard & Goodyear, 2018).