This study investigated the predictive relationship between facets of supervision (e.g., style, regularity, and mode of delivery of supervision) and Clinician Self-Efficacy (CSE) in several community behavioral health agencies across the southwestern United States. The sample of participants in this study was 111 masters and doctoral-level clinicians from various backgrounds (i.e., counseling, clinical psychology, and social work) who provided clinical behavioral health services and were receiving clinical supervision at the time of this study. In order to gather data on perceptions of clinical supervision and CSE, participants completed the Supervisory Styles Inventory (SSI), the Counselor Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES), and a demographic questionnaire that gathered demographic data and supervision data not captured by the CASES or SSI.

Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated a non-significant correlation (r = .114, p = .234) between the style of supervision and CSE. There was a non-significant negative correlation between the frequency of supervision and CSE (r = -.036, p = .705). There was also a non-significant negative correlation between the time spent discussing clinical cases and CSE (r = -.123, p = .197). Lastly, the proportion of variability did not differ significantly among the three modes of clinical supervision (mean ranks: individual supervision, 56.26; group supervision, 55.22; or both; 56.20) and their influence on CSE.

While results of this study indicated that some facets of supervision (e.g., style, regularity, and mode of delivery of supervision) are not predictive of CSE, a caution is that clinician growth and development may not positively influence CSE immediately. A better understanding of the dynamics between a clinician and a supervisor and how these dynamics play a role in clinician development is needed to address the unique challenges that face the field of community behavioral health and its professionals.