ABSTRACT
Supervision represents a complex interpersonal relationship that is impacted by the personal attributes and professional skills of the supervisor, supervisee characteristics, the dynamics of the supervisor-supervisee relationship, and the types of supervisory processes employed by the supervisor. Who is the effective supervisor represents a critical question when considering what contributes to an effective supervisory relationship (Barnett, Erickson Cornish, Goodyear, & Lichtenberg, 2007). Ladany, Mori, and Mehr (2013) studied supervisee perceptions of effective therapy supervisors in the field of counseling psychology and identified four key characteristics of effective supervisors and supervisory relationships. These characteristics included the quality of the supervisory alliance, the ability to foster inquiry and autonomy in the supervisees, the clinical expertise of the supervisor, and their ability to provide their supervisees with positive and challenging feedback. This chapter will address these and other aspects that contribute to an effective supervisory relationship and fulfill the purposes of supervision discussed in Chapter 2.
