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The Impact of Supervision Training on Genetic Counselor Supervisory Identity Development

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  • Published:
Journal of Genetic Counseling

An Erratum to this article was published on 31 August 2014

Abstract

Supervision is critical to the training of genetic counselors. Limited research exists on the influence of supervision training and experience on the development of genetic counseling supervisors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of supervision training in addition to supervisory and clinical experience on supervisory identity development, and the perceived confidence and competence supervisors have in their own supervisory skills. In addition, we explored genetic counselors’ (N = 291) interest in and barriers to training as well as perspectives on requirements for supervisors. Results indicated clinical experience, supervision experience, and formal supervision training are positively associated with genetic counselors’ supervisory identity development as measured by the Psychotherapy Supervisory Development Scale (PSDS) (p < 0.05). Despite a moderate correlation between supervision experience and formal training (ρ = 0.42, p < 0.001), both had independent effects on PSDS scores (p < 0.04). A majority of genetic counselors were interested in receiving supervision training but noted lack of available training as a barrier. The majority of participants indicated that supervisors should be certified as genetic counselors, but there was no consensus on training requirements. Development of additional supervision training opportunities for genetic counselors should be considered.

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Conflict of Interest

Carrie Atzinger, Kimberly Lewis, Lisa J. Martin, Geoffrey Yager, Catherine Ramstetter, and Katie Wusik declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave., ML 4006, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Carrie L. Atzinger, Kimberly Lewis, Lisa J. Martin & Katie Wusik

  2. College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Carrie L. Atzinger & Kimberly Lewis

  3. College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Geoffrey Yager & Catherine Ramstetter

Authors
  1. Carrie L. Atzinger
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  2. Kimberly Lewis
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  3. Lisa J. Martin
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  4. Geoffrey Yager
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  5. Catherine Ramstetter
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  6. Katie Wusik
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Correspondence to Carrie L. Atzinger.

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Atzinger, C.L., Lewis, K., Martin, L.J. et al. The Impact of Supervision Training on Genetic Counselor Supervisory Identity Development. J Genet Counsel 23, 1056–1065 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-014-9730-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-014-9730-7

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