DOCTORAL SUPERVISORS PERCEIVED COUNSELING SELF-EFFICACY AFTER BEING TRAINED ON USING SUPERVISION FOR VICARIOUS GRIEF THROUGH THE DISCRIMINATION MODEL

Abstract

The purpose of the intended study was to investigate whether training doctoral students on how to handle vicarious grief experiences through the Discrimination Model would impact doctoral supervisors’ counseling self-efficacy when providing supervision on vicarious grief. This was determined by collecting and comparing pre- and post-test scores from 48 doctoral students, from CACREP-accredited Counseling Education and Supervision programs, on a researcher-revised version of the Counselor Self-Efficacy Scale that specifically addresses supervision for vicarious grief (CSES-SVG). Participants were recruited by using convenience sampling through invitation from the researcher via counseling-related listservs (e.g., CESNET, Duquesne’s Canvas/e-mail), or via program directors or site supervisors of doctoral students. The training was online with two embedded attention checks. The demographic questionnaire and pre- and post-test data were collected online. Results of the study, based on a Wilcoxon signed-rank test, revealed that doctoral student participants showed an on-average increase of perceived counseling self-efficacy for vicarious grief. The findings of this study may help to inform future best practice standards for supervisors to address vicarious grief in supervision and draw continued attention in better supporting supervisors and future educators within doctoral counseling education and supervision programs on issues of grief. Future research would benefit from a focus on exploring and understanding the potential impact of background variables on the effectiveness of the training