Visions and Realities: Supervisee Perspectives of Multicultural Supervision

This article provides an overview of the experiences of 4 psychologists‐in‐training as supervisees in multicultural supervision relationships. Grounded in the supervision and multicultural literature, this article helps both supervisors and supervisees to (a) understand supervisees' needs and perspectives for culturally integrated supervision and (b) discuss multicultural issues during supervision. Recommendations are provided to facilitate the development of effective multicultural supervision. Este artículo muestra un resumen de las experiencias de 4 psicológos‐en‐entrenamiento bajo supervisión en relaciones de supervisión multiculturales. En base a la literatura multicultural y de supervisión, este artículo ayuda a supervisores y supervisados a (a) entender las necesidades de los supervisados y sus perspectivas hacia temas que integran la cultura en la supervisión, y (b) a discutir temas multiculturales durante la supervisión. Se proveen recomendaciones para facilitar el desarrollo de supervisión multicultural eficaz.     

Multicultural Training Experiences as Predictors of Psychology Students' Cultural Competence

The psychologists in the western world, including Australia, are required to be culturally competent because of the cultural diversity of these societies. Previous studies conducted in North America and Europe have found multicultural teaching, clinical experience with culturally diverse clients, and discussion of multicultural counselling issues in supervision to be related to the practitioner's cultural competency. The present study examined factors contributing to trainee psychologists' perceived level of cultural competence. It was hypothesised that multicultural teaching, clinical experience, and supervision would be related to students' level of cultural competence. One hundred twenty‐seven postgraduate clinical psychology students completed an online survey battery that included demographic information, a social desirability measure, and the Multicultural Mental Health Awareness Scale. This hypothesis was partially supported. Clinical experience and supervision focusing on multicultural issues were found to be related to participants' perceived cultural competence; however, multicultural teaching was not. These results provide insight into how universities around Australia can facilitate future psychologists' competence in working with clients from different cultural backgrounds.     

A Feminist Multicultural Perspective on Supervision

Sixteen members of the Section for the Advancement of Women conference work group identified themes and issues relevant to a feminist multicultural perspective on supervision. Issues raised included feminist silence and White privilege, the importance of self‐examination, the courage to be anxious, personal commitment to uncertainty, and isolation versus support. Specific risks for supervisors and supervisees participating in feminist multicultural supervision are identified. Dieciséis miembros de una Sección para el Adelantamiento de Mujeres conferencia de grupo del trabajo identificaron los temas y ausuntos pertinente de una perspectiva feminista multicultural en la supervisión. Los asuntos elevados incluyeron el silencio feminista y el privilegio Blanco, la importancia del autoexamen, el valor para estar ansioso, compromiso personal para la incertidumbre, y el aislamiento en oposicion de apoyo. Los riesgos específicos para supervisores y supervisa tomando parte en la supervisión feminista multicultural se identifica.     

Transference-Love and Institutional Involvement in a Case of Psychotherapy Supervision

Transference-love in supervision remains a relatively unexplored subject in psychotherapy. This article describes and analyzes an incident of the supervision of a student whose dress code raised a question regarding the existence of transference-love. The role of the institution in maintaining a protective envelope is shown to be significant in the satisfactory resolution of what appeared to have been an impasse. In addition, multicultural and gender issues are examined to illustrate the complexity of the subject.     

The development and initial validation of the Multicultural Environmental Inventory: a preliminary investigation

This article describes the development and initial validation of the Multicultural Environmental Inventory (MEI). The MEI is an instrument designed to measure an individual's perceptions about the degree to which graduate counseling programs address multicultural issues within curriculum, supervision, climate, and research. This investigation was conducted using the data from 208 students and faculty from counseling psychology graduate programs across the United States approved by the American Psychological Association. By using techniques of exploratory factor analysis, a 4-factor solution was determined to account for the relationships among the items on the MEI. The instrument was modified from 53 to 27 items on the basis of the items' effectiveness in measuring the underlying constructs of interest, and internal consistency information is provided on the final revised instrument (MEI-R). The factors underlying the MEI-R are discussed within the context of a multicultural environment in graduate counseling programs, and directions for future research are considered.     

Fostering Multicultural and Identity Development in Adult Learners Through Study Tours

The author qualitatively examined adult learners' experiences on a study tour to South Africa and assessed the effectiveness of the tour as a tool for enhanced multicultural awareness. The findings may be of interest to counselors/educators who teach about multicultural issues or wish to enhance their personal growth in multiculturalism.     

All Supervision is Multicultural: A Review of Literature on the Need for Multicultural Supervision in Counseling

This paper discusses several aspects of multicultural supervision, reviews current research literature on cross cultural supervision, which would explain why it is important to be competent in multicultural supervision. The paper also describes the roles of the supervisor and supervision techniques that facilitate multicultural supervision. A Case example is provided for a better conceptualization of the techniques involved in multicultural supervision. The paper also addresses areas that need more research and literature within the field of cross-cultural supervision.     

The Role of Intersectionality in Marriage and Family Therapy Multicultural Supervision

This paper offers a framework for understanding intersectionality and its role within marriage and family therapy multicultural supervision. An explanation of intersectionality, social identity relationships, multicultural supervision foundations and the influence of power through supervision will be discussed. Further, this paper will describe foundational concepts in the multicultural supervisory dyad and challenges integrating intersectionality within marriage and family therapy supervision. Implications for clinical supervision and research directions are discussed through cross cultural models, a randomized control design and conversation analysis.     

Students' Perceptions of Multicultural Training in Counseling Psychology Programs

The Multicultural Competency Checklist (Ponterotto, Alexander, & Grieger, 1995) was used to assess counseling psychology students' perceptions of multicultural training in their programs. Results revealed that most students perceived their programs to (a) have a required multicultural counseling course, (b) employ diverse teaching strategies and procedures, (c) use varied methods of evaluating performance, and (d) have faculty members whose primary research interest was in multicultural issues. Alternatively, many students reported that their programs did not (a) have appropriate representation of bilingual individuals on the faculty, (b) demonstrate adequate leadership and support with regard to multicultural issues, (c) use assessment instruments in evaluating their level of multicultural competency, and (d) make available a “multicultural resource center” for their use. The importance of integrating multicultural issues throughout academic programs is also discussed.     

Critical Incidents in Multicultural Supervision: Exploring Supervisees' and Supervisors' Experiences

Reports of supervisors' and supervisees' critical incidents in multicultural supervision were used to (a) explore events in supervision that influenced supervisees' multicultural competence, (b) explore how supervision was experienced differently by supervisors and supervisees, and (c) identify recommendations for improving multicultural supervision. Implications for training and research are discussed. Los reportes de incidentes críticos en la supervisión multicultural fueron utilizados para (a) explorar los acontecimientos en la supervisión que influyeron la competencia multicultural de los supervisados (b) explorar cómo la supervisión fue experimentada diferentemente por los supervisores y los supervisados e (c) identificar recomendaciones para mejorar la supervisión multicultural. Se discuten las implicaciones para la instrucción e investigación en esta area.     

Successful and Unsuccessful Multicultural Supervisory Behaviors: A Delphi Poll

Using the Delphi method, university counseling center supervisors with significant experience in multicultural supervision generated and ranked elements of successful and unsuccessful multicultural supervision. Twenty‐seven of 35 successful elements and 24 of 33 unsuccessful elements involved cultural considerations. Multicultural supervision was defined as a supervisory situation in which the individuals in the supervisory dyad differed in their ethnicity. Empleando el método Delphi, los supervisores de un centro universitario de consejería con amplia experiencia en supervisión multicultural generaron y clasificaron elementos de supervisión multicultural fructuosos e infructuosos. Veintisiete de los 35 elementos fructuosos y 24 de los 35 infructuosos implicaron consideraciones culturales. La supervisión multicultural se definió como una situación de supervisión en la cual las personas que forman la díada tienen etnicidades distintas.     

A Multicultural Competency Checklist for Counseling Training Programs

This brief report presents a Multicultural Competency Checklist that can be used by counseling training programs as a pragmatic guide in multicultural program development. The Checklist includes 22 items organized along six major themes: minority representation, curriculum issues, counseling practice and supervision, research considerations, student and faculty competency evaluation, and physical environment. Guidelines for using the Checklist are provided.     

Multicultural Competence–Focused Peer Supervision: A Multiple Case Study of Clinical and Counseling Psychology Trainees

In this longitudinal, qualitative case study, 21 clinical and counseling psychology trainees met in leaderless peer supervision groups for 1 training year to discuss multicultural aspects of their clinical work. Peer supervision sessions were audio recorded and transcribed, and the content was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results indicated that, despite the absence of experts to facilitate discussions, participants were able to focus on multicultural issues and generally benefited from this type of peer supervision. En este estudio de caso longitudinal y cualitativo, 21 alumnos de psicología clínica y consejería se reunieron en grupos de supervisión entre pares sin líderes durante un año de su formación para discutir aspectos multiculturales de su trabajo clínico. Se grabó y transcribió el audio de las sesiones de supervisión entre pares, y luego se analizó el contenido usando un análisis temático. Los resultados indicaron que, a pesar de la ausencia de expertos para facilitar las discusiones, los participantes fueron capaces de centrarse en los temas multiculturales y generalmente se beneficiaron de este tipo de supervisión entre pares.     

Multicultural Issues in Predoctoral Internship Programs: A National Survey

The present study examined the extent to which internship training directors (ITDs) addressed multicultural issues in their predoctoral training programs. Regarding the overall sample, ITDs reported varied levels of attention to specific multicultural issues. By internship agency type, ITDs at university counseling centers reported significantly greater attention to multicultural issues than did ITDs at community mental health centers, state hospitals, medical schools, and private psychiatric hospitals. Results clearly indicated the need for increased attention to multicultural issues in all internship programs.     

Ethical Challenges in a Complex World: Highlights of the 2005 ACA Code of Ethics

Being an effective counselor includes having knowledge of and the ability to integrate a code of ethics into one's professional practice. This article addresses some of the highlights of the changes in the 2005 ACA [American Counseling Association] Code of Ethics such as end‐of‐life issues, boundaries and relationships, and multicultural and diversity considerations. It is critical for counselors to demonstrate cultural sensitivity during the ethical decision‐making process throughout their counseling, supervision, teaching, and research practice.     

How honest do counsellors dare to be in the supervisory relationship?: An exploratory study

A study was conducted to investigate the extent to which psychodynamic counsellors feel able to disclose sensitive issues in supervision. Ninety-six counsellors in supervision responded to a questionnaire that asked about supervision arrangements, the supervisory working alliance, and the likelihood of disclosing issues such as erotic feelings towards clients and discomfort with the supervisor. Results showed that supervisees were likely to disclose more in individual rather than in collective supervision, when their supervisor was someone whom they themselves had chosen rather than had allocated to them, and when they were supervised independently of the setting in which they counselled rather than in-house. There was a positive correlation between the quality of the supervisory working alliance as experienced by the supervisee and the extent of his or her disclosure. Implications of counsellors feeling inhibited from disclosing particular issues in supervision, and the impact on the quality of their work with clients, are discussed.     

Barriers and challenges in the practice of multicultural counselling in Malaysia: A qualitative interview study

Counsellors face a lot of problems and stressors in their daily lives. As a person, counsellors may face challenges to deal with their personal expectations and responsibilities in life, work, family and community. As a professional, counsellors may face difficulties in dealing with professional issues and ethical dilemmas in their professional practice such as countertransference and value conflicts. These raise issues concerning their perceived multicultural competence and the adequacy of their training. Informed by a multicultural counselling perspective and drawing on semi-structured interviews with 12 professional counsellors in Malaysia, this study discusses the types of barriers and challenges faced by Malaysian counsellors and how these challenges were manifested and addressed in the cross-cultural counselling sessions. Results revealed five emerging themes based on participant counsellors’ responses on the barriers and challenges encountered in their practice of multicultural counselling in Malaysia. These were challenges related to counsellors’, clients’, presenting issues’, third-party and specific contexts’ characteristics. Research implications for the education and training of counsellors in the specific Malaysian socio-political context are also discussed.     

An Investigation of Relationships among Genetic Counselors’ Supervision Skills and Multicultural Counseling Competence

As racial and ethnic diversity increase in the U.S., genetic counselor multicultural competence is growing in importance. In mental health counseling, supervisor multicultural competence has been shown to promote supervisees’ multicultural competence. Moreover, developmentally-advanced supervisors tend to be more effective. This study was designed to investigate relationships among genetic counselor supervisors’ perceived multicultural counseling competence and development as supervisors, and their ability to evaluate a supervisee’s multicultural skills. One hundred twenty-two supervisors completed an online survey of demographics, the Multicultural Counseling Knowledge and Awareness Scale, the Supervisor Development Scale, and a hypothetical vignette in which they evaluated a supervisee’s multicultural skills and provided written feedback. Stepwise multiple regression yielded five significant predictors accounting for 31% of the variance in accuracy of supervisor evaluations of the student: multicultural awareness, multicultural knowledge, age, supervision experience, and supervisor development. Six feedback themes were identified from written responses. Practice and research suggestions are provided.     

The Relationship Between Multicultural Counseling Training and the Evaluation of Culturally Sensitive and Culturally Insensitive Counselors

In a study, multicultural counseling training contributed significantly to the variance in ratings of a culturally sensitive counselor. No significant contribution was made to the variance in ratings of the culturally insensitive counselor. Possible explanations and implications of these results in multicultural counseling supervision are discussed.     

Public Theology and the Modern Social Imaginary

Abstract : Charles Taylor's study of the development of the modern social imaginary raises several issues for public theology in a secular, multicultural society. Canada provides an example of such a culture and shows how the issues arise in a specific public and media context. Even if public theologians can learn to speak the language of secular multicultural societies and give what are recognized as public, rational arguments for their positions, the media culture may not provide the space which makes public theology possible.