Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on Supervisees' Experiences of Clinical Supervision

ABSTRACT

Public Significance Statement The global pandemic of COVID-19 shifted the clinical training of professional psychology students from in-person, to virtual, or telesupervision. Studying this particular historical event provides us with insights about the challenges and benefits of conducting telesupervision (a) on a wide scale, (b) for the first time for many professional psychology trainees, and (c) within the context of a global crisis that disrupted everyday protocols. By investigating the experiences of professional psychology trainees during this rare crisis, we are provided not only a starting point for developing best telesupervision practices overall but also best practices for clinical supervision during crises. The global pandemic, COVID-19, changed the clinical supervision landscape in professional psychology. Supervisees transitioned from in-person supervision, to virtual, or telesupervision, in some cases, with limited preparation. We used a mixed methods approach to evaluate supervisee experiences during the transition to telesupervision precipitated by the global pandemic and to provide a historical record of the impact of the pandemic on clinical training. We also assessed the relationship between the supervisory working alliance and attitudes toward telesupervision. Authors used consensual qualitative research-modified to analyze qualitative data from 324 participants. Data revealed categories of technology, organization and productivity, and communication and connection, as the top three challenges experienced by clinical supervisees. Supervisees reported flexibility and convenience and saving time and money, as the top two benefits of engaging in telesupervision during the pandemic. Quantitative data from 310 participants suggested a moderate, positive, relationship between supervisee perception of the working alliance and attitudes toward telesupervision. Implications for research, practice, and theory are discussed.