Abstract

In the present study, I investigated what are the important case conceptualization elements in clinical supervision through extensive literature review. And I examined the relationship between the length of counseling experiences and the perception of the importance of each element of case conceptualization in clinical supervision. Also, I examined the differences in the perceptions of the importance of each element in counseling case conceptualization between supervisors and counselors in Korea. From the extensive literature review in counseling case conceptualization conducted either in the US or in Korea, I selected a total of 183 case conceptualization elements considered important in clinical supervision. Out of the 183 elements, 27 core elements were selected through sorting process by 6 doctoral level students in counseling and through validation process by 5 clinical supervisors with over 10 year counseling experiences and over 5 year supervision experiences. Research participants were asked to rate their perceptions of the importance of each element on a 7 point liken scale. Also, they rated the presentation frequency of each element in actual supervision sessions. To see the relationship between the length of counseling experiences and the importance ratings on each element, correlation coefficients were produced. 46 counselors and 20 supervisors participated this procedures. Results indicated that as the counselors have more counseling experiences, they tend to rate client's reasons to come now and his/her present complaints less important(p<.05). On the other hand, there were positive relationships between the length of counseling experiences and the rating scores on client's central problems, history of problems, affective style, comprehensive understanding of the problems, process goals, counseling strategies, and anticipated barriers against attaining goals (p<.01). There were also positive relationships between the length of counseling experiences and the importance ratings on client's developmental history, current situation related to the problems, cognitive style, history of problems, theoretical explanation of central problem, and ultimate goals (p<.05). The results of the correlations between the length of counseling experiences and the presentation frequency of the elements indicated that the more counseling experiences the counselors have, the more they presented the elements of the client's central problems and core affects, coping strategies, ultimate goals, counseling strategies, and anticipated barriers against attaining goals (p<.01), and developmental history, origins of the problems, theoretical explanation of central problems, and process goals (p<.05). To examine the differences in the ratings on the perceived importance of the 27 elements in clinical supervision between supervisors and counselors, ANCOVA was conducted with the effect of the length of counseling experience controlled. Results indicated that the supervisors tended to give higher scores on the theoretical explanation of client's problems, counseling strategies, and the anticipated barriers against attaining goals than the counselors do. Results of the present study implied that the length of counseling experience make a significant difference in perceiving the important elements of case conceptualization in clinical supervision. Specifically, the more experienced counselors tend to perceive the importance of the elements of integrated and systemic understandings of client and his/her problems, whereas the less experienced counselors tend to focus more on the client's current issues. The finding of few differences between the supervisors and the counselors in the importance perceptions and the presentation frequencies of the case conceptualization elements, when the effects of the length of counseling experiences were controlled, suggested the need for supervisor training to provide the qualified case conceptualization skills.