Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Corinne W. Bridges

Abstract

The population of mental health counselors mirrors the diversity of the people served by the counseling profession. Becoming a professional counselor in the United States requires a designated number of clinical supervision hours. The supervision process is designed to ensure a supervisee is equipped with the skills and develops the professional identity to serve the public. Studies have explored the phenomenon of parallel processing (the processes at work between a supervisee and client reflected in their relationship) from clinical supervisors’ perspectives, yet researchers agree that the supervisee initiates the phenomenon, and the voices of supervisees have not been captured. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of minority supervisees during the phenomenon of parallel processing in clinical supervision. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data from six participants who worked in various therapeutic settings. The data analysis was consistent with Smith’s interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) a desire to help others, (b) supervisor’s contribution to the professional development of the supervisee, and (c) supervisee’s perception of the phenomenon of parallel processing. The results of the study expand the definition of the occurrence of the phenomenon of parallel processing and the impact of the supervisor’s response and provide data for the need of increased attention to intersectionality in training clinical supervisors. The findings of this study have potential implications for positive social change that include a greater commitment to social justice and congruence with the mission statement of the American Counseling Association.

Download

Share

 
COinS