1. 1 Supervision: Critical Incidents in Counselor Development Jenelle C. Fitch, M.A. and M. Carole Pistole, Ph.D. Purdue University Fitch, J. C., & Pistole, M. C. (2005, August). Supervision: Critical Incidents in Counselor Development. Poster presented at the Annual American Psychological Association Convention, Washington, D.C. jcfitch@purdue.edu and pistole@purdue.edujcfitch@purdue.edu

2. 2 Critical Incidents - Definition  Essential Form of Counselor Development (Skovholt & McCarthy, 1988)  Significant and Influential Events in Counselor’s Professional Development (Furr & Carroll, 2003) –Positive or Negative  Developmental Turning Points –Contribute to Personal and Professional Development (Offerman-Zuckerburg, 1998; Skovholt & McCarthy)

3. 3 Critical incidents – Counselor’s Experience  Immersed in an Intense, Emotional Struggle  Felt as Profound Change & Turning Point  Outcome is Transformed, More Sophisticated Counseling Skill (Furr & Carroll; Morrissette,1996)

4. 4 CI – Supervisor Experience   Counselor’s CI – –Teachable Moment (Morrissette, 1996) – –Intervene to Facilitate Development   Provide Support (Rabinowitz, Heppner, & Roehlke, 1996)   Identify Clinical Challenges & Knowledge (Wetchler & Vaughn, 1991)   Direct Toward Higher Order, Personal- Professional Integration   Monitor Clients   Little Literature; Conditions for ACMS (Fitch, Pistole, & Gunn, 2005)

5. 5 Attachment-Caregiving Model of Supervision (ACMS) Counselor Anxiety Due to: Clients’ Intense Emotion & Material (i.e., Death & Dying) Attachment System Activation Evidenced by: Overly-Directive, Focus Away from Emotional Material Supervisor Safe Haven Function Evidenced by: Sensitivity & Responsiveness Attachment System Deactivated / Exploratory System Activated Evidenced by: Non- Therapeutic Behaviors Cease, Interventions are Therapeutic Supervisor secure base Evidenced by: Providing Guidance to PC, Calling in When He / She Sees the PC is Unsure or Anxious Increased Competence Evidenced by: Effective Interventions & Client Progress, Counselor’s Greater Self- Efficacy

6. 6 CI – Case Scenario  Context for Critical Incident –Counselor  30ish-Year-Old Newly Pregnant Female –Clients  50ish-Year-Old with Severe Chronic Health Problems –Recently Diagnosed with a Pernicious Cancer  30ish-Year-Old –Older Sibling Diagnosed with a Pernicious Cancer  Confluence: New Life vs. Lives Threatened

7. 7 Anxiety: Provokes Attachment System Activation  Clients: –Intense Emotion –Intense Material (i.e., death, dying)  Counselor’s Identity Change: –Incorporate Pregnancy, Parenthood, Program Material (i.e., Theoretical Foundations / Conceptualizations)  Concerns: –How and When to Disclose Pregnancy (i.e., Fallon & Brabender 2003; Stuart, 1997) –Impact of the Pregnancy on Clients, Especially the Clients Dealing with Terminal Illness

8. 8 CI – Signals  Counselor Non-Therapeutic Behavior –Defensive Flight from Emotion –Increased Overly-Directive Interventions –Distancing the Client –Questioning vs. Prompting Client Exploration –Quick Pacing, Question-Answer Sessions  Conceptualization –Counselor Anxiety & –Attachment System Activation

9. 9 Supervisory Safe Haven Function  Goal: Attachment System Deactivation & Exploratory System Activation  Caregiving Mechanisms –Sensitivity: Notice Counselor’s Anxiety and Attachment Cues –Responsiveness: Address Emotion (e.g., “you seem so tired... the pregnancy? the intensity of the clients?... and they are back-to-back sessions.”) –Flexibility: Consider Counselor’s Attachment Style

10. 10 Attachment System Deactivation  Exploratory System Activation  Therapeutic Behavior –Facilitate Client Exploration –Identify Emotions and Concerns –Coach Intense Family Conversations & Rituals –Guide to Positives and Negatives about the Life Lived to this Point  Theoretical Applications  Personal Growth

11. 11 Supervisory Secure Base Function  Function as Stronger and Wiser (Bowlby, 1988) to Anchor Counselor –Professional Knowledge – Foundation to Anchor Counselor, Even If Lack Cancer- Relevant Knowledge –“You don’t know when I’m observing, but I will be with you”  Provide Guidance as Needed –Clinical Challenges – (a) Client Reclamation of Life’s Meaning, (b) Accept Uncertainty as a Part of Life, & (c) Living with Terminal Illness (Eelink & Duffy, 2004; Holt, Houg, & Romano, 1999)

12. 12 Increased Counselor Competence  More Effective Skills in Probing & Exploring Client Material  Enhanced Understanding of Existential Theory  Self-Directed Learning about “The Pregnant Counselor” (i.e., Fallon & Brabender, 2003)  Greater Self-Efficacy and Confidence  Internalize Autonomy & Competence

13. 13 Conclusion  As Important In Counselor Development, Critical Incidents Merit Supervision  Development Can Occur As the Counselor & Clients Grapple with the “Ambiguity of the Human Condition” (Skovholt & Ronnestad, 2003, p. 46)  Clients Teach Counselors / Supervisors  Hope and Resolution Can Emerge in Very Strenuous Circumstances