Trait Emotional Intelligence and Perceived Supervisory Working Alliance of Counseling Trainees and Their Supervisors in Agency Settings

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationships between supervisee and supervisor trait emotional intelligence (EI) levels and their perception of the supervisory working alliance. Data were collected from 64 supervisor-supervisee dyads among masters-level community counseling internship students and their site supervisors. Findings indicated that supervisees and supervisors with higher levels of trait EI tended to perceive the supervisory working alliance more positively. However, findings did not support the presence of an interaction effect between supervisee and supervisor trait EI on either supervisees' or supervisors' perceptions of the working alliance. Implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.

The Relationship Between Supervisee Stress, Coping Resources, the Working Alliance, and the Supervisory Working Alliance

“…Similar to the working alliance, the supervisory working alliance comprises three components: goals, tasks, and bonds (Bordin, 1983). The supervisory working alliance also has been extensively studied and linked to various supervisee outcomes (Efstation, Patton, & Kardash, 1990; Lehrman‐Waterman & Ladany, 2001; Sterner, 2009) and various characteristics of the supervisor and supervisee (Chen & Bernstein, 2000; Cooper & Ng, 2009).…”

“…Similar to the working alliance, the supervisory working alliance comprises three components: goals, tasks, and bonds (Bordin, 1983). The supervisory working alliance also has been extensively studied and linked to various supervisee outcomes (Efstation, Patton, & Kardash, 1990;Lehrman-Waterman & Ladany, 2001;Sterner, 2009) and various characteristics of the supervisor and supervisee (Chen & Bernstein, 2000;Cooper & Ng, 2009). Bordin (1983) outlined eight goals, two of which (i.e., self-awareness and working through personal obstacles) are focused on a supervisee's personal development and can conceptually include a supervisee's level of stress and ability to cope.…”

Examining the Relationship of Emotional Intelligence and Cultural Empathy in Addiction Counselors

“…B. Cooper & Ng, 2009), stress management , and lower levels of counselor burnout (Gutierrez & Mullen, 2016;Testa & Sangganjanavanich, 2016).…”

“…Higher levels of EI have also been linked to supervision outcomes (J. B. Cooper & Ng, ), stress management (Gutierrez et al, ), and lower levels of counselor burnout (Gutierrez & Mullen, ; Testa & Sangganjanavanich, ).…”

Psychometric properties of the Alliance and Negotiation Scale‐Supervision Version

“…In addition, explicit discussions about trainees' roles and responsibilities within the context of a positive supervisory relationship have also been found to be helpful in lessening trainees' anxiety and role difficulties (Friedlander et al, 1986; Olk & Friedlander, 1992). Furthermore, researchers have found a number of relational factors to influence the strength of the supervisory working alliance, such as supervisor's and supervisee's emotional intelligence (Cooper & Ng, 2009), attachment style (Dickson et al, 2011), role conflict (Ladany & Friedlander, 1995), and supervisory style (Ladany et al, 2001).…”