Family members' perceptions of live observation/supervision: An exploratory study

This ex post facto survey examined 75 client family members' perceptions of live observation/supervision of family therapy at a university clinic. The results seem to reflect the subjects' general satisfaction with the process, although this general satisfaction did not significantly predict outcome on either family or therapist goal attainment scores. Family members whose therapists were female reported greater satisfaction with the process than those with male theapists, although no differences by therapist gender were found on either therapist or family goal attainment scale scores. Open-ended responses suggested that some family members were aware of the purposes of certain strategic team interventions. Implications of findings for the practice and research of live supervision and/or observation are discussed.The authors would like to acknowledge the aid of Judith Myers Avis, Marcia Brown Standridge, Cleveland Shields, Linda Stone Fish, and Joseph Wetchler in various aspects of this research project.