Counselor Educator Nonverbal Behavior in the Supervision Process

Abstract

Sixteen counselor educators and counselors-in-training participated in a content analysis study that investigated supervisors' nonverbal behaviors in the supervision process.The investigation displays the high-tdow frequency of 2 1 identified nonverbal behaviors of supervisors and indicates a statistically significant association and consistency among the supervisors' nonverbal behaviors. It implies the applicability of these behaviors to counselor supervision and training, provides a methodological approach for the further investigation of nonverbal behavior in actual supervision and counseling situations, and suggests that counselor educators should not overlook these variables in systematic research or their influence in the supervision process with novice counselors.Counselor educators and counselors have presented, investigated, argued for, and applied many differing theoretical orientations and techniques regarding counseling and counselor education. As a result, the importance of certain variables in the counseling process has been revealed. Concomitantly, differing theoretical orientations and strategies applicable to counselor education and training also exist (Arbuckle, 1965; Mazer 8c Engle, 1968;Mueller & Kell, 1972;Ohlsen, 1974; Patterson, 1974). Unlike the counseling process, there has been much less systematic investigation and application of study results to the supervisory process.Seligman and Baldwin (1972) describe the need for investigations concerning the "how" and "what" of supervision, and the continued study of the intricacies and unspoken assumptions that develop in the supervisory relationship. Considering the need for systematic investigations of the supervision process, and to partially address the issues presented by Seligman and Baldwin (1972), a content analysis study was conducted to investigate the nonverbal behaviors of supervisors as aspects of the how and what of supervision.Results of the study provide information regarding the reliable identification of supervisors' nonverbal behaviors. They also indicate DECEMBER 1979101

Nonverbal Training for Psychotherapy

“…Investigation of both facilitator-client interviews (Seals & Prichard, 1973) and counselor supervisor trainee interviews (Wilbur, 1979) suggests that, while nonverbal behavior continues to occur in those interviews, attention to nonverbal behavior is absent as an intentional training objective. With no systematic nonverbal training continuing into clinical internship and ongoing proicssional case supervision, a clinician interested in utilizing nonverbal behavior will draw upon early academic training to attempt to enhance therapist acuity to interpret behavior and/or to modify therapist nonverbal behavior.…”

“…Accordingly, in clinical internship and ongoing professional supervision where a primary training objective involves intervention with client behavior, nonverbal dydactic and experiential training are insufficient. A study of counselor supervisor-trainee interviews suggests that while nonverbal behaviors such as gestural activity and eye contact and vocal nonfluencies and body position changes do occur, they occur unwittingly and perhaps even in a restricted manner (Wilbur, 1979). And if nonverbal behaviors occur only unwittingly as an act of supervision, it is unlikely that attention to nonverbal behaviors will be a component of either diagnosis or intervention.…”

Categories of Nonverbal Behavior: Implications for Supervision

“…A basis of study and information does exist, however, as a result of the theoretical formulations and research of numerous individuals (BirdwhistIe, 1970;Davis, 1973;Ekman & Friesen, 1968, 1969a, 1969b, 1972Hall, 1959Hall, , 1966Harrison, 1973;Knapp, 1972;Mehrabian, 1969;Montague, 1971;Scheflen, 1964). Improved and new methodology, increased empirical research, and application of results, and more rigorous theoretical formulations are anticipated (Harrison & Knapp, 1972;Wilbur, 1979).…”

“…are the areas typically included within definitions of nonverbal communication and behavior. The following categories of nonverbal behaviors, and literature citations, thus appear to have the most applicability and implications for counselor educators and supervisors in their training and supervision of novice counselors (Wilbur, 1979).…”

“…Touching to express warmth, identification, support, and encouragement is used sparingly, yet touching behavior has great influence on others, whether the communicators know each other or not (Knapp, 1972). In a content analysis study of supervisors' nonverbal behaviors, for example, Wilbur (1979) observed no holding, spot touching, accidental brushing, or touching during greetings and farewells between supervisors and trainees in over eight hours of one-to-one supervision. The lack of touching behavior may thus reflect an important dimension that our profession is neglecting in counselor training and supervision.…”