Abstract

This study examined incidents of supervisory working alliance rupture and identified the supervisor factors, contextual factors, and outcomes of such ruptures among counselors who received supervision for an extended period. Interviews were conducted with eleven recently certified counselors and data were analyzed using the consensual qualitative research method. The characteristics of the supervisors that contributed to ruptures included ‘personal attacks or overly strong criticism’ and ‘excessive emotional attitudes’. The contextual factors were ‘the supervisor’s attitude towards the rupture’ and ‘expectations or attachment to the supervisor’. The immediate consequences of the ruptures included ‘emotional distress and confusion’ and ‘receiving supervision without sincerity leading to reduced effectiveness’. The coping strategies included ‘expressing one’s opinions with courage’ and ‘judging whether to continue supervision’. The re-interpretations of the ruptures included ‘reevaluating the incidents’ and ‘growing as a counselor’. The significance and implications of the study are presented.