Supervisor Responsiveness and Unresponsiveness in Cross-Cultural Supervision

Alan Burkard, Marquette University
Adanna Jinaki Johnson
Michael B Madson, Marquette University
Nathan Pruitt, Marquette University
Deborah A Contreras-Tadych, Marquette University
JoEllen M Kozlowski, Marquette University
Shirley A. Hess, Shippensburg University
Sarah Knox, Marquette University

Journal of Counseling Psychology, Vol. 53, No. 3 (July 2006): 288-301. DOI.

Abstract

Thirteen supervisees' of color and 13 European American supervisees' experiences of culturally responsive and unresponsive cross-cultural supervision were studied using consensual qualitative research. In culturally responsive supervision, all supervisees felt supported for exploring cultural issues, which positively affected the supervisee, the supervision relationship, and client outcomes. In culturally unresponsive supervision, cultural issues were ignored, actively discounted, or dismissed by supervisors, which negatively affected the supervisee, the relationship, and/or client outcomes. European American supervisees' and supervisees' of color experiences diverged significantly, with supervisees of color experiencing unresponsiveness more frequently and with more negative effects than European American supervisees. Implications for research and supervision practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)