The Structured Peer Consultation Model for School Counselors

Abstract

School counselors typically receive little or no supervision of their counseling. Results of an evaluation of the Structured Peer Consultation Model for School Counselors indicate that the model may help meet the needs of school counselors for ongoing feedback on their counseling with student-clients.Electronic Journal: To print this article select pages 90-94. TOC

Dyadic, triadic, and group models of peer supervision/consultation: What are their components, and is there evidence of their effectiveness?

“…Although three models are listed, all are based in the Remley, Benshoff, and Mowbray (1987) format. This is a true consultation model, with peers taking turns being supervisor and supervisee without any oversight by others, although an orientation and training session was provided to participants in one study (Benshoff & Paisley, 1996).…”

“…Benshoff found no significant differences between the two groups' post‐test self‐ratings of counselling effectiveness. Benshoff and Paisley (1996) employed the model with school counsellors ( n = 20) who, in a pilot study, completed 16 evaluation items. Participants gave very positive ratings of their experience overall and reported that the model had helped them develop their counselling and consulting skills.…”

“…Borders' (1991) structured peer group approach has been applied in several studies. In an experimental study, Crutchfield and Borders (1997) assigned school counsellors ( n = 29) to the Borders' group model, the Benshoff and Paisley (1996) dyadic model, or a control group. Participants received training and a manual for the two experimental treatments.…”

Supervision Experiences of New Professional School Counselors

“…Studies focusing on post-degree supervision of professional school counselors have documented the underutilized practice of school counselor supervision in schools and included recommendations for the practice and delivery of supervision for school counseling professionals who have completed their formal educational training. Samples of these recommendations include peer supervision (Agnew, Vaught, Getz, & Fortune, 2000;Borders, 1991;Crutchfield & Borders, 1997), peer consultation (Benshoff & Paisley, 1996), group supervision Gainor & Constantine, 2002), and clinical supervision (Henderson & Lampe, 1992;Sutton & Page, 1994). Several authors have focused their work specifically on theories, models, and modalities of supervision that attempt to address the practice of supervision for professional school counselors (Borders, 1989;Getz 1999;Nelson & Johnson, 1999;Page, Pietrzak, & Sutton, 2001;Peace, 1995;Protivnak, 2003).…”

Recommendations for a Conceptual Model of Counseling Supervision

“…3. Utilize supervision models that foster interdependence among counselor trainees such as the Structured Peer Consultation Model for School Counselors (SPCM-SC, Benshoff & Paisley, 1996). 4.…”