Date of Award

January 2020

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Counseling and Educational Psychology

First Advisor

Ken Engebretson

Department Affiliation

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Second Advisor

Charles E. Myers

Department Affiliation

Counseling and Educational Psychology

Third Advisor

Angela Spiers

Department Affiliation

Counseling and Educational Psychology

Abstract

Routine clinical supervision is among the licensure expectations for the counseling profession, yet the connections of this tradition to evidence-based practices and client outcomes remain unclear. The utilization of feedback informed treatment (FIT) data in supervision represents a means to monitor treatment effectiveness and incorporate an evidence-based practice in supervision, but prior research has suggested that the adoption of FIT in practice is rare. The purpose of this study was to identify and clarify factors associated with the utilization of FIT data in the supervision of provisionally licensed counselors. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study design was used to explore what and how factors are related to supervisors’ use of FIT data in supervision. In the first phase of the study exploring demographic, practice setting, and attitudinal factors, surveys were completed by 50 supervisors. In a second phase of the study, interviews were completed with 16 supervisors to clarify how factors are related to the use of FIT data in supervision. Results suggested that the use of FIT data in supervision is also rare but was more likely among supervisors who previously or currently work in community mental health centers. Attitudes towards the use of FIT data in supervision were favorable even among non-users, but barriers to use such as practical burdens and questions about validity of data were concerns for some supervisors. Findings indicated potential for expanded use of FIT data in supervision if future implementation accommodates supervisor expectations.

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