A Model for Using Triadic Supervision in Counselor Preparation Programs

Abstract

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (2001) has approved the use of triadic supervision as an alternative to individual supervision in clinical instruction. However, literature describing this mode of supervision is very limited. A model for triadic supervision is described, including presession planning, in-session strategies, and administrative considerations and supervisee evaluation. An evaluation of the model from 2 recent studies is also discussed, and recommendations are provided for using triadic supervision in counselor preparation.Counselor supervision is one of the most direct and intensive ways to intervene in the development of counselors-in-training. In 2001, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) revised the standards for supervision of counselors-in-training to include triadic supervision as an approved modality. The triadic supervision approach is defined by CACREP as "a tutorial and mentoring relationship between a supervisor and two counseling students" (p. 105) that involves all three members simultaneously. Although the research and literature on individual and group supervision is extensive, relatively little is known about triadic supervision in the form articulated by CACREP.This article describes the triadic supervision literature, the strengths and limitations of this approach to supervision, and the implementation and evaluation of a specific form of triadic supervision in a counselor education program at one university. The model for triadic supervision described herein also provides a guide for the interpersonal and counseling supervision skills necessary to work effectively within this supervision structure.

Systemic Processes in Triadic Supervision

“…Providing a different perspective, Gillam and Baltimore (2006), in a podcast, compared triadic supervision with group supervision and described the dynamics of these two modes of supervision as similar. Lawson, Hein, and Getz (2009) proffered a format for triadic supervision that centers around practices to enhance administrative, clinical, and relationship aspects of triadic supervision.…”

A Content Analysis of Peer Feedback in Triadic Supervision

“…Historically, supervisors provided supervision through individual and group sessions, but, in 2001, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP, ) introduced triadic supervision, a “tutorial and mentoring relationship” (p. 64) between one supervisor and two supervisees who meet simultaneously, as a substitute for individual sessions. Since then, with continued CACREP () endorsement of the triadic modality, a number of supervisors have opted for triadic rather than individual sessions (Lawson, Hein, & Getz, ). Their approaches to triadic sessions are typically either single focused, focusing on one supervisee each week, or split focused, dividing the time equally between both supervisees each week (Lawson, Hein, & Getz, ).…”

“…Since then, with continued CACREP () endorsement of the triadic modality, a number of supervisors have opted for triadic rather than individual sessions (Lawson, Hein, & Getz, ). Their approaches to triadic sessions are typically either single focused, focusing on one supervisee each week, or split focused, dividing the time equally between both supervisees each week (Lawson, Hein, & Getz, ).…”

“…In fact, supervisees sometimes received peer feedback more easily or understood peer feedback better than supervisor feedback (Borders et al, ; Lawson et al, ). On the other hand, supervisees also reported sometimes feeling awkward about providing feedback to their peers and were reluctant to give critical feedback (Hein & Lawson, ; Lawson, Hein, & Getz, ). In addition, when supervisees reported being in mismatched pairings, based on differing counseling skill levels, personality, or developmental levels, both supervisees and supervisors said the peer feedback was not helpful (Borders et al, ; Hein & Lawson, , ; Hein et al, , ; Lawson, Hein, & Getz, ).…”

Supervisee Incompatibility and Its Influence on Supervisee and Supervisor Outcomes in Triadic Supervision: An Investigation of Supervisors' Perspectives

“…In triadic supervision, one supervisor works simultaneously with two supervisees during supervision sessions. Since its approval, many aspects of triadic supervision have been investigated, either quantitatively (Newgent, Davis, & Farley, 2005) or qualitatively (Hein & Lawson, 2008Lawson, Hein, & Getz, 2009;Lawson, Hein, & Stuart, 2009;Lawson, Hein, & Stuart, 2010;Stinchfield, Hill, & Kleist, 2007). An important facet of triadic supervision that has only recently received systematic research attention, however, is supervisee incompatibility.…”