Unraveling the Direct and Indirect Effects of Supervisory Working Alliance on Supervisory Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Supervisee Disclosure in Supervision

Abstract

This research examined the direct and indirect links of supervisory working alliance on supervisory satisfaction. Participants were 291 supervisees who had participated in individual counseling practicum courses either in undergraduate or graduate Psychological Counseling and Guidance program in Turkish universities. Data were collected using the Brief Form of the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory (BSWAI-T), Supervisee Disclosure in Supervision Scale (SDSS), and Supervisory Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ). Research results indicated that supervisory working alliance made direct contributions to supervisory satisfaction. In addition, the supervisory working alliance contributed indirectly to supervisory satisfaction via supervisee disclosure in supervision. Supervisory working alliance and supervisee disclosure in supervision explained 56% of the variance in supervisory satisfaction. This study offers novel insights into the role of supervisee disclosure in supervision as an underlying mechanism that operates on the influence of supervisory working alliance on supervisory satisfaction. Implications for the supervision process and counselor training are discussed.