Effects of supervision and nonsupervision in a modified microcounselling model with family aides
Date
1982
Authors
Brown, Richard Hein
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Abstract
This study was designed to examine the impact of supervision in a modified microcounselling communication skills training programme with paraprofessional family a ides. The target skills presented in training were effective inquiry, reflection of feeling and reflection of content.
Eighteen family aides from the YMCA's Special Services to children and their families volunteered to participate in the three week training programme. All subjects participated in a 20 minute counselling interview before and after training. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental conditions: (a) modified microcounselling without supervision; (b) modified microcounselling with supervision; and (c) no-treatment control. The training was presented to the supervised and nonĀ supervised groups via the modified microcounselling programme. The components of training included: written i nformation and multiple choice questions from a programmed manual, video-tapes depicting positive and negative exampl es of the target skills, role-play practice and discussions. The control group received no counselling skills training.
Following the audiotaped posttraining interviews, pre and post interviews were rated for skill frequency and the qualities comprising the ideal therapeutic relationship. All subjects' pre and posttraining interviews were assessed using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and the Ideal Therapeutic Relationship Scale (ITRS) measures.
Hypotheses were formulated and tested. The ANCOVA revealed no significant differences among groups in the acquisition of counselling skills and the decreased use of skills opposite to the target skills. The ITRS ratings showed no significant difference between training groups but did indicate a significant improvement for the supervised group when compared to the control condition. The non-supervised group failed to show a significant improvement when compared to the control group in the ITRS ratings.
While the ANCOVA results did not indicate a significant improvement for training and control groups in the acquisition of counselling skills, a change in the desired direction was noted for the supervised and non-supervised groups when compared to the control group. The ITRS ratings revealed a significant improvement for the supervised group in comparison to the control group while the non-supervised group approached significance when compared to the control condition. Neither training group differed significantly from each other. The implications of these findings are discussed as they relate to the training of the YMCA's family aides. Suggestions for future research are also considered.