Predictors of Counseling Self-Efficacy: Examining the Counselor Trainees' Perception of Supervisory Interaction Style

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess how clinical supervisors' style of interaction, as described by SDT’s concepts of perceived autonomy support versus perceived controlling style, predicts the counseling self-efficacy (CSE) of a mental health counseling intern placed in a field internship. An additional purpose of this study was to examine if this relationship between autonomy support and counseling self-efficacy was mediated by autonomous work motivation. Participants were approached during an internship class session to complete instruments related to their demographic characteristics, perceptions of supervisory interaction style – autonomy supportive versus controlled (Perceived Autonomy Support Scale – Employee), autonomous or controlled motivation (Multidimensional Work Motivation Scale) and counseling self-efficacy (Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory). In addition, a need for autonomy scale (Autonomy and Homonomy Measure ) was also included in the questionnaire packet to perform an exploratory analysis on participants’ need for autonomy as it relates to perceived autonomy support. Participants consisted of master’s level mental health counseling interns enrolled in their field internships. Regression analyses were conducted to assess the predictive relationship between perceived autonomy support from supervisor and participant’s counseling self-efficacy. Path analyses were conducted to investigate if this relationship was mediated by autonomous work motivation.