Counselors’ Supervision: What Helps to Express Their Thoughts?

Abstract

The counseling practicum provides an opportunity for counselors to explore and practice their acquired skills in the actual work setting. Confronting the practicum site, at the outset, it is not uncommon for the practicum counselor to experience great anxiety and trepidation, faced with many challenges and uncertainties, that may linger throughout the course of the practicum. This study is conducted to explore these predicaments, using creative activities as a platform to share their concerns and worries in coping with practicum issues. Thirty participants, 3 males and 27 females, who were attached as practicum counsellors, participated in the study. Data were triangulated from three different sources: from the process journals, scheduled guided journals and drawing activities done during the supervision meetings. Scheduled guided reflective journals refer to the journals that provide a guiding question to respond with the purpose to meet the immediate needs at certain phases of the practicum journey. Journals are scheduled at 4 different phases of the practicum. A Reflective Process journal is one of the tasks done immediately upon the completion of each activity to reflect on the immediate reactions of participants to the activities conducted. Based on the findings, the challenges were categorized into six major themes: Interpersonal relationship, Inadequate Skills, the real Clients, Direct Contact Hours, Report and Documentation and Counselling facilities. The practicum counselors’ source of coping can be either internal or external support, or both. The drawing activities during the weekly supervision helped practicum counselors release their tension; whereas the weekly meetings are Stress Releasers for them. Stress during the practicum may be inevitable but the continuous support throughout the supervision and the creativity in providing the platforms and means to enable the practicum counsellors to release and express their issues and concerns, thus helping them cope better through the practicum journey.