Relationship Between the Supervisory Working Alliance and Outcomes: A Meta‐Analysis

TLDR

The study examined how the supervisory working alliance relates to supervision outcomes through a meta‑analysis. The authors conducted a meta‑analysis of 27 supervision studies from 1990 to 2018, employing the MIX program to compute effect sizes. The meta‑analysis found that a stronger supervisory working alliance predicts better supervision outcomes, including improved supervisee–client relationships, and revealed a recurring isomorphism pattern across supervision and counseling contexts.

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between the supervisory working alliance and supervision outcome variables using meta‐analysis. The authors reviewed 27 articles, dissertations, and theses published between 1990 and 2018. The authors used the MIX program to calculate the meta‐analyses. The results indicate that the supervisory working alliance is positively related to supervision outcome variables. Supervisees’ perceived relationship with the supervisor was positively related to the relationship with the client. This shows that the phenomenon of isomorphism is a repeated pattern in the relationships in supervision and counseling. The authors discuss the limitations and implications.