Effective and ineffective college clinical supervisors: looking back

The composite of the effective supervisor is that of an individual who is a knowledgeable professional who puts priority on high-quality instruction and guidance and gives specific, constructive evaluations to supervisees. The effective supervisor is a consistent observer who is accessible, enthusiastic, encouraging, a good listener, and humanistic. This supervisor is knowledgeable about the clients for whom the students are providing services, interacts with them, and demonstrates techniques for students. The supervisor has high expectations of the supervisees, while giving the students responsibility for decisions and input into the therapeutic process. Additionally, the effective supervisor shows interest in and respect for supervisees and guides them toward additional resources for information. The composite of the ineffective supervisor is opposite that of the effective supervisor. This individual is neither knowledgeable nor professional. Quality of instruction and guidance are not priorities for this often self-centered individual. The ineffective supervisor does not observe the students, and what little feedback is given is perceived by the students as negative and detrimental to instruction. This individual does not care about the students or clients who receive services.