Abstract:
Counselor expectations of supervision and counselor burnout were assessed. The sample consisted of 120 members of the Oregon
Personnel and Guidance Association. Subjects were contacted by mail and asked to complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire contained two instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Counselor Supervision Inventory (CSI). The MBI is a 22-
item instrument which measured frequency and intensity of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. The CSI is a 60-item instrument developed for this study which measures ideal and actual perceptions of supervisory counseling, consultation, and teaching. Linear regressions were computed to measure the relationships between level of counselor experience and ideal perceptions of supervision. Pearson correlations were computed to measure the
degree of relationship between the counselor supervision variables and the burnout variables. Multiple regressions were computed to measure the relationships between the burnout variables and selected
demographic variables. It was found that counselors are dissatisfied with the quality
of the supervision they are receiving. Level of counselor experience was not significantly related to supervision needs. Counselor dissatisfaction with supervision was significantly and positively related to frequency and intensity of emotional exhaustion, intensity of depersonalization, and negatively related to frequency of personal accomplishment. Level of academic degree was positively related to frequency of depersonalization, and hours per week of supervision received was positively related to intensity of depersonalization. It was concluded that supervision is effective in preventing counselor burnout to the extent that it is perceived by counselors as being characterized by expertise and support.
