Improvements in psychologists' metacommunication self-efficacy, willingness, and skill following online training and a supervision exercise

Authors

Fiona L. Calvert, University of Wollongong
Frank P. Deane, University of WollongongFollow
Jessica Barrett

RIS ID

140321

Publication Details

Calvert, F. L., Deane, F. & Barrett, J. (2019). Improvements in psychologists' metacommunication self-efficacy, willingness, and skill following online training and a supervision exercise. Journal of Clinical Psychology,

Abstract

2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Objective(s): Psychologists' experiences of an online training tool in metacommunication as well as an in-supervisory metacommunication exercise were examined. Method: A total of 101 participants completed a training tool in metacommunication and changes in self-efficacy (SE) to use metacommunication with clients, the proportion of metacommunication used in vignette-responses, and their willingness to use metacommunication in supervision were assessed pre- and posttraining and at 6-week follow-up. A total of 48 participants elected to undertake the in-supervision exercise. Results: Participants reported significantly higher willingness and self-efficacy after completing the online training. They also showed a higher proportion of metacommunicative statements in their posttraining vignette responses compared with pretraining. The increase in willingness was retained at 6-week follow-up. There was an increase in self-efficacy from pre- to postonline-training, and this increased at follow-up. Conclusions: This opens the door to better developing metacommunication skills in supervisees through both online training and the metacommunication supervisory exercise. Areas for continued research are outlined.