The relationship between counseling supervisee attachment orientation and perceived bond with supervisor

Clinical supervisors are often at a loss to explain why some supervision relationships promote change while others are fraught with conflict. Supervisee attachment may help supervisors understand supervision relationships. This qualitative study used The Working Alliance Inventory and a modified Relationship Questionnaire to investigate the relationship between supervisee attachment orientation and perceived bond with supervisor over time and within and between experience levels. The participants were 117 Master's level counseling students receiving supervision. The results indicated no difference of attachment orientation for level of supervisee but did indicate a relationship between attachment orientation and perceived bond with the supervisor.