Which statement describes the relationship between the supervisor and the employee in counseling?

• A. The supervisor can provide the skills needed to develop and make referrals as needed
• B. The supervisor should avoid giving any skills and rely on external coaches
• C. The supervisor is not involved in personal crises
• D. The supervisor should only document performance

Answer: (A)

In counseling supervision, the supervisor’s role is to build the supervisee’s practical skills and connect them with the right supports. The supervisor acts as a guide and teacher, modeling counseling techniques, giving feedback, and coaching the employee to develop competence in handling cases. When issues extend beyond what the supervisor can address, they should arrange referrals to appropriate professionals, ensuring the supervisee gets the necessary expertise. This combination—providing skills and making referrals—best describes how the supervisor supports the employee.

Other approaches miss important parts of this relationship: not giving any skills ignores the developmental mentorship essential to growth; avoiding involvement in personal crises overlooks how personal factors can impact professional work and the supervisor’s role in guiding toward appropriate help; and focusing only on documenting performance neglects ongoing skill development and support.