Supervisee multicultural case conceptualization ability and self-reported multicultural competence as functions of supervisee racial identity and supervisor focus.

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that supervisees' multicultural case conceptualization ability and self-reported multicultural competence are functions of their racial identity and their supervisors' instruction to focus on multicultural issues. Results from 116 supervisees, both Persons of Color and White persons, indicated that their racial identity was significantly related to self-reported multicultural competence. However, racial identity for both groups was not significantly related to multicultural case conceptualization ability. Furthermore, self-reported multicultural competence was not found to be significantly related to multicultural case conceptualization ability. However, supervisors' instruction to focus on multicultural issues was significantly related to conceptualizations of a multicultural treatment strategy. Theoretical, empirical, and practical implications for multicultural counselor supervision are addressed.