Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T03:23:44.295Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

School Psychology and Supervision in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2018

Nina Ding
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Janene Swalwell*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Education, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Janene Swalwell, Faculty of Education, Monash University, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Clinical supervision is an essential feature of high-quality psychological practice. However, it has been under-investigated within the field of school psychology and particularly in Australia. An overview of the field of school psychology, its clinical supervision, and its use by school psychologists is provided. Past literature has suggested inadequate engagement with supervision among these practitioners. In order to examine current work contexts and supervision experiences, 77 school psychologists were surveyed. Engagement in supervision appears to have markedly increased since the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Continuing Professional Development mandates in 2010. However, the data indicated that further organisational and policy support of school psychologists is warranted.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society Ltd 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agnew, T., Vaught, C.C., Getz, H.G., & Fortune, J. (2000). Peer group clinical supervision program fosters confidence and professionalism. Professional School Counseling, 4, 612.Google Scholar
Annan, J., & Priestly, A. (2011). A contemporary story of school psychology. School Psychology International, 33, 325344. doi:10.1177/0143034311412845Google Scholar
Annan, J., & Ryba, K. (2013). Networks of professional supervision. School Psychology Quarterly, 28, 170182. doi:10.1037/spq0000015Google Scholar
Australian Psychological Society (APS). (2009). Framework for the Effective Delivery of School Psychological Services. Melbourne, Australia: Author. Retrieved from https://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/2013-APS-psychological-services-framework-for-public-sector-NGO%20.pdfGoogle Scholar
Australian Psychological Society. (2015). APS register of school psychologist supervisors. Retrieved from http://admin.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/sps-report.pdfGoogle Scholar
Bambling, M., King, R., Raue, P., Schweitzer, R., & Lambert, W. (2006). Clinical supervision: Its influence on client-rated working alliance and client symptom reduction in the brief treatment of major depression. Psychotherapy Research, 16, 3017–331.Google Scholar
Barletta, J. (1996). Supervision for school counsellors: When will we get what we really need? Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 6, 17.Google Scholar
Bell, H.D., & McKenzie, V. (2013). Perceptions and realities: The role of school psychologists in Melbourne, Australia. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 30, 5473. doi:10.1017/edp.2013.1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bernard, J.M., & Goodyear, R.K. (2014). Fundamentals of clinical supervison (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Merrill.Google Scholar
Boyle, C.A., Boulet, S., Schieve, L.A., Cohen, R.A., Blumberg, S.J., Yeargin-Allsopp, M., . . . Kogan, M.D. (2011). Trends in the prevalence of developmental disabilities in US children, 1997–2008. Pediatrics, 127, 10341042. doi:10.1542/peds.2010–2989Google Scholar
Bramlett, R.K., Murphy, J.J., Johnson, J., Wallingsford, L., & Hall, J.D. (2002). Contemporary practices in school psychology: A national survey of roles and referral problems. Psychology in the Schools, 39, 327335. doi:10.1002/pits.10022Google Scholar
Castillo, J.M., Curtis, M.J., & Gelley, C. (2012). School psychology 2010 — Part 2: School psychologists’ professional practices and implications for the field. Communiqué, 40, 46Google Scholar
Castillo, J.M., Curtis, M.J., & Tan, S.Y. (2014). Personnel needs in school psychology: A 10-year follow-up study on predicted personnel shortages. Psychology in the Schools, 51, 832849. doi:10.1002/pits.21786CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chafouleas, S.M., Clonan, S.M., & Vanauken, T.L. (2002). A national survey of current supervision and evaluation practices of school psychologists. Psychology in the Schools, 39, 317325. doi:10.1002/pits.10021Google Scholar
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.) Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Culbreth, J.R., Scarborough, J.L., Banks-Johnson, A., & Solomon, S. (2005). Role stress among practicing school counselors. Counselor Education and Supervision, 45, 5871. doi:10.1002/j.1556- 6978.2005.tb00130.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curtis, M.J., Castillo, J.M., & Gelley, C. (2012). School psychology 2010: Demographics, employment, and the context for professional practice — Part 1. Communiqué, 40, 128.Google Scholar
Curtis, M.J., Grier, J., & Hunley, S.A. (2004). The changing face of school psychology: Trends in data and projections for the future. School Psychology Review, 33, 4966.Google Scholar
Curtis, M.J., Hunley, S.A., & Grier, J. (2002). Relationships among the professional practices and demographic characteristics of school psychologists. School Psychology Review, 31, 3042.Google Scholar
Dick, B., & Ferguson, B.J. (2015). Health for the world's adolescents: A second chance in the second decade. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56, 36. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.10.260Google Scholar
Eckersley, K., & Deppeler, J. (2013). Mapping the practice of psychologists in schools in Victoria, Australia. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 30, 157170. doi:10.1017/edp.2013.14Google Scholar
Faulkner, M. (2007). School psychology in Australia. In Jimerson, S., Oakland, T., & Farrell, P. (Eds.), The handbook of international school psychology (pp. 1528). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Fernando, D.M., & Hulse-Killacky, D. (2005). The relationship of supervisory styles to satisfaction with supervision and the perceived self-efficacy of master's-level counseling students. Counselor Education and Supervision, 44, 293304. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.2005.tb01757.xGoogle Scholar
Fischetti, B.A., & Crespi, T.D. (1999). Clinical supervision for school psychologists: National practices, trends and future implications. School Psychology International, 20, 278288. doi:10.1177/0143034399203003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freitas, G.J. (2002). The impact of psychotherapy supervision on client outcome: A critical examination of 2 decades of research. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 39, 354367. doi:10.1037/0033-3204.39.4.354Google Scholar
Gonsalvez, C.J., & Milne, D.L. (2010). Clinical supervisor training in Australia: A review of current problems and possible solutions. Australian Psychologist, 45, 233242. doi:10.1080/0050067.2010.512612Google Scholar
Harvey, V.S., & Pearrow, M. (2010). Identifying challenges in supervising school psychologists. Psychology in the Schools, 47, 567581. doi:10.1002/pits.20491Google Scholar
Harvey, V.S., & Struzziero, J.A. (2008). Professional development and supervision of school psychologists: From intern to expert (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.Google Scholar
Hosp, J.L., & Reschly, D.J. (2002). Regional differences in school psychology practice. School Psychology Review, 31, 1129.Google Scholar
Howard, F. (2008). Managing stress or enhancing wellbeing? Positive psychology's contributions to clinical supervision. Australian Psychologist, 43, 105113. doi:10.1080/00050060801978647Google Scholar
Hunley, S.A., Harvey, V., Curtis, M., Portnoy, L., Chesno Grier, F., & Helffrich, D. (2000). School psychology supervisors. A national study of demographics and professional practices. Communiqué, 28, 3233.Google Scholar
Jimerson, S.R., Graydon, K., Yuen, M., Lam, S.-F., Thurm, J.-M., Klueva, N., . . . Phillips, J. (2006). The international school psychology survey: Data from Australia, China, Germany, Italy and Russia. School Psychology International, 27, 532. doi:10.1177/0143034306062813Google Scholar
Jimerson, S.R., Stewart, K., Skokut, M., Cardenas, S., & Malone, H. (2009). How many school psychologists are there in each country of the world? International estimates of school psychologists and school psychologist-to-student ratios. School Psychology International, 30, 555567. doi:10.1177/0143034309107077Google Scholar
Kilminster, S., & Jolly, B. (2000). Effective supervision in clinical practice settings: A literature review. Medical Education, 34, 827840.Google Scholar
Kratochwill, T.R., & Shernoff, E.S. (2004). Evidence-based practice: Promoting evidence- based interventions in school psychology. School Psychology Review, 33, 3438.Google Scholar
Ladany, N., & Friedlander, M.L. (1995). The relationship between the supervisory working alliance and trainees' experience of role conflict and role ambiguity. Counselor Education and Supervision, 34, 220231. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6978.1995.tb00244.xGoogle Scholar
Lawrence, D., Johnson, S., Hafekost, J., Boterhoven de Haan, K., Sawyer, M., Ainley, J., & Zubrick, S.R. (2015). The mental health of children and adolescents: Report on the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.Google Scholar
Leech, N.L., & Onwuegbuzie, A.J. (2007). An array of qualitative data analyis tools: A call for data analysis triangulation. School Psychology Quarterly, 22, 557584. doi:10.1037/1045-3830.22.4.557Google Scholar
McIntosh, D.E., & Phelps, L. (2000). Supervision in school psychology: Where will the future take us? Psychology in the Schools, 37, 3338. doi:10.1002/pits.43002Google Scholar
McMahon, M. (2002). Structured peer group supervision by email: An option for school guidance and counselling personnel. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 12, 110.Google Scholar
McMahon, M. (2005). Clinical supervision in school counselling and career counselling: Is it time to develop a new story? Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 15, 105116. Retrieved from http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=JGCGoogle Scholar
McMahon, M., & Patton, W. (2000). Conversations on clinical supervision: perceived by school counsellors. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 28, 339351. doi:10.1080/713652301Google Scholar
McMahon, M., & Patton, W. (2001). Clinical supervision: The perceptions and experiences of school counselors in Australia. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 23, 201214. doi:10.1023/A:1013170011770Google Scholar
McMahon, M., & Solas, J. (1996). Perceptions of guidance officers and senior guidance officers about clinical supervision: A preliminary study. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 6, 920.Google Scholar
Mills, L.B., & Huebner, E.S. (1998). A prospective study of personality characteristics, occupational stressors, and burnout among school psychology practitioners. Journal of School Psychology, 36, 103120. doi:10.1016/S0022-4405(97)00053-8Google Scholar
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (2010). Model for comprehensive and integrated school psychological services. Bethseda, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.nasponline.org/standards/2010standards/2_PracticeModel.pdfGoogle Scholar
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). (2011). Position statement: Supervision in school psychology. Bethseda, MD: Author.Google Scholar
Nelson, M.L., & Friedlander, M.L. (2001). A close look at conflictual supervisory relationships: The trainee's perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 48, 384395. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.48.4.384Google Scholar
Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). (2010). Guidelines on continuing professional development. Retrieved from http://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Standards-and-Guidelines/Codes-Guidelines-Policies.aspxGoogle Scholar
Silva, A.E., Newman, D.S., Guiney, M.C., Valley-Gray, S., & Barrett, C.A. (2016). Supervision and mentoring for early career school psychologists: Availability, access, structure and implications. Psychology in the Schools, 53, 502516. doi:10.1002/pits.21921Google Scholar
Simon, D.J., Cruise, T.K., Huber, B.J., Swerdlik, M.E. & Newman, D.S. (2014). Supervision in school psychology: The developmental/ecological/problem-solving model. Psychology in the Schools, 51, 636646. doi:10.1002/pits.21772Google Scholar
Spence, S.H., Wilson, J., Kavanagh, D., Strong, J., & Worrall, L. (2001). Clinical supervision in four mental health professions: A review of the evidence. Behaviour Change, 18, 135155. doi:10.1375/bech.18.3.135Google Scholar
Suldo, S.M., Friedrich, A., & Michalowski, J. (2010). Personal and systems-level factors that limit and facilitate school psychologists' involvement in school-based mental health services. Psychology in the Schools, 47, 354373. doi:10.1002/pits.20475CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, J.M., & Page, B.J. (1994). Post-degree clinical supervision of school counselors. The School Counselor, 42, 3239. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/journal/schoolcounselorGoogle Scholar
Swalwell, J.M., & Harvey, V.S. (2016). Provision of supervision and school psychologist's self-care. In Thielking, M. & Terjesen, M.J. (Eds.), Handbook of Australian school psychology (pp. 737755). New York, NY: Springer.Google Scholar
Thielking, M., & Jimerson, S.R. (2006). Perspectives regarding the role of school psychologists: Perceptions of teachers, principals and school psychologists in Victoria, Australia. Australian Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 16, 211223.Google Scholar
Thielking, M., Moore, S., & Jimerson, S.R. (2006). Supervision and satisfaction among school psychologists: An empirical study of professionals in Victoria, Australia. School Psychology International, 27, 405414. doi:10.1177/0143034306070426Google Scholar
Thomas, A. (2000). School psychology 2000: What is average? Communiqué, 28, 810.Google Scholar
Urbis. (2011). Literature review on meeting: The psychological and emotional wellbeing needs of children and young people: Models of effective practice in educational settings. Sydney, Australia: NSW Department of Education and Communities. Retrieved from https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/about-us/statistics-and-research/public-reviews-and-enquiries/school-counselling-services-review/models-of-effective-practice.pdfGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, S., & Richards, K. (2007). The impact of clinical supervision on counsellors and therapists, their practice and their clients. A systematic review of the literature. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 7, 5465. doi:10.1080/14733140601185274Google Scholar
Ysseldyke, J.E., Burns, M., Dawson, P., Kelley, B., Morrison, D., Ortiz, S., . . . Telzrow, C. (2006). School psychology: A blueprint for training and practice III. Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.Google Scholar