Working alliance, supervisory styles/role and satisfaction with supervision of speech-language pathologists during their first year of professional service

In the field of speech-language pathology, clinical supervision plays a critical role in training speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Relatively few studies have addressed the clinical supervision that occurs after graduate training (during the first year of professional service). This study explored the supervision experiences and beliefs of individuals currently completing their first year of professional service, regarding: (a) their perception about their working relationship with their supervisor, (b) their perceptions about the supervisory styles and predominant role assumed by their supervisor, and (c) their satisfaction with supervision. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected utilizing a questionnaire completed by individuals currently completing a Required Professional Experience (RPE) as required by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing Board (SLPAB). The largest majority of participants (93%) were also completing a Clinical Fellowship (CF) as required by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA).;One hundred twenty-two individuals participated in this study. Results revealed that the majority were satisfied with their supervision. The majority also reported a relatively strong working alliance with their supervisors. Most, but not all, participants considered their supervisor a mentor. Consistent with Anderson's Continuum Model of Supervision (Anderson, 1988), the majority of participants indicated that their supervisors used either a collaborative or consultative supervisory role. Participants also reported that their supervisors most frequently used a supervisory style consistent with Friedlander and Ward's (1984) Attractive supervisory style. Demographic variables of the supervisor, supervisee, and setting did not play a dominant role in these findings. Rather, interactional factors between the supervisee and supervisor were found to be important to working alliance and satisfactions measures. In particular, all levels of satisfaction with supervision were importantly related to working alliance. All three types of supervisory styles (Attractive, Interpersonally Sensitive and Task Oriented supervisory styles) (as outlined by Friedlander & Ward, 1984) were also found to be importantly related to working alliance and satisfaction measures. The results of this study are discussed as they relate to clinical supervisors, researchers, and governing agencies in the field of speech-language pathology.