Supervisor Development

 

The role of mentor is uniquely suited to the development of  professional values. As Mentor (and Athena disguised as Mentor) guided  Telemachus’ development during Odysseus’ absence, the counseling mentor  guides the development of the new counselor. Mentoring allows the  supervisor to help supervisees envision themselves as professionals  (Corey et al., 2010).

Whether you are operating as teacher, mentor, or supervisor (or any  combination of the three), you have a responsibility to pass on the  essential knowledge and skills of the profession to the next generation  (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2007). The roles of teacher  and supervisor have clear responsibilities (both legal and ethical) to  guide this passing of knowledge and skills. As a mentor, you act in more  informal settings and without specific guidelines. Or do you?

There are serious ethical concerns when knowledge is morally  disconnected from its application (Sommers-Flanagan &  Sommers-Flanagan, 2007, p. 317). Mentor did not just teach Telemachus—he  guided him through the actions needed to resist his father’s enemies.  The counseling mentor becomes an informal teacher, moving knowledge into  action. This may be done in a number of informal activities such as  presenting or writing together (Corey et al., 2010).

Briggs and Pehrsson (2009) strongly support the concept of research  mentorship for pre-tenure faculty. This mentor has two functions:  relational (role-modeling and developmental issues) and instructional  (research development and career issues). Briggs and Pehrsson found that  guidance in the promotion and tenure process was the type of help most  often received from the mentor, followed by writing help and career  advice. The lowest rate of mentor help was in research methodology, data  analysis, and ethics (integrity). Certainly, the case can be made that  the integrity issue should be the first in priority for the mentor.

The Roman goddess Vesta (Hestia if you are Greek) was the deity who  presided over sacred wisdom and the hearth. In public life, she was the  protectress of the state. She was symbolized by a flame (the flame or  torch in many university emblems represent Hestia and her wisdom). As  the keeper of the flame, she preserved the state and the institutions of  society. As long as her flame endured, the state would survive. As you  grow and develop as a supervisor (mentor), you become the keeper of the  flame of counseling professionalism. As long as you help maintain the  flame, the profession survives.

References

Bernard, J. M., & Goodyear, R. K. (2019). Fundamentals of clinical supervision (6th ed.). Pearson.

Briggs, C. A., & Pehrsson, D. E. (2009). Research mentorship in counselor education. Counselor Education and Supervision, 48(2), 101–113.

Corey, G., Haynes, R., Moulton, P., & Muratori, M. (2010). Clinical supervision in the helping professions: A practical guide (2nd ed.). American Counseling Association.

Sommers-Flanagan, R., & Sommers-Flanagan, J. (2007). Becoming an ethical helping professional: Cultural and philosophical foundations. Wiley.

For this discussion post, address the following:

  • Several models of supervisor development are presented by Bernard and Goodyear in your  Fundamentals of Clinical Supervision text. Does one model stand out over the others for you?
  • How is your selection congruent with the philosophy of  supervision you are developing for the Personal Supervision Philosophy  Paper?
  • Discuss your thoughts on lifetime supervision, as practiced in Great Britain.
  • As you look forward to your future as a supervisor, how will you try to bring mentoring into your supervisory role?

Use 3-5 APA 7th edition citations and references

Complete in 600-750 words