Development of the standardized supervisee framework as a novel approach to supervision training.

Abstract

The standardized patient model is a high-quality method of training and assessment of clinical competencies, and with some modifications it could provide a useful approach for training and assessing supervisory competency. The goal of the current work was to (Study 1) develop and validate case materials (written intake summary, case notes, and brief video segments of mock therapy sessions) with experienced supervisors (n = 92), and then (Study 2) pilot test the full standardized supervisee framework in clinical psychology doctoral students completing a supervision course (n = 6). Results from Study 1 confirmed that the four scenarios reliably differed from each other in the depiction of the central clinical issues that a supervisor would need to address. In Study 2, doctoral students completed the entire framework, where they reviewed the written case material and video clip from one scenario, and then conducted a mock supervision session with a trained clinician-actor and received feedback on their supervision skills. Qualitative interviews with Study 2 participants confirmed the feasibility of the standardized supervisee framework within a doctoral training program. Students reported learning about themselves as supervisors-in-training and learning how to demonstrate applied supervision skills. Data verified the importance of feedback on the development of supervision skills and that the experiential nature of the framework holds value. We discuss some additional ways the standardized supervisee framework could be used, including its potential value as an assessment of supervisory competency.