Perceptional differences in the supervision of paraprofessional mental health workers

Paraprofessional mental health workers and their supervisors completed critical incident questionnaires describing their most and least helpful supervision experiences. A categorical scheme summarizing these critical supervision experiences was developed. A comparative analysis indicated that both the paraprofessionals and supervisors recognized the importance of a supportive supervisory relationship. Paraprofessionals placed more emphasis on their supervisor as a role model, whereas supervisors placed more importance on the paraprofessionals' personal dynamics. The implications of the perceptional differences between paraprofessionals and their supervisors are discussed.