Differences in Perceptions of Supervisee Contribution: Supervisors’ vs. Supervisees’ Evaluations

Supervisees’ behaviors contribute to or detract from effective supervision. The purpose of this study was to compare supervisors’ evaluations of supervisee contribution behaviors with that of supervisees’ self-assessments using the Adapted Supervisee Utilization Rating Form (SURF). Statistically significant differences in the ratings indicate that supervisors perceive their supervisees as more proactive and open than supervisees perceive themselves. To create a milieu in which supervisees feel safe enough to share their work with supervisors and encourage supervisees to take initiative in their own learning, the researchers make the following recommendations: (1) following ACES best practices for monitoring and assessing supervisees, (2) using appropriate supervisor self-disclosure, and (3) adopting a solution-focused approach to supervision