What is it about?
This study explored how training programs for school counseling site supervisors—those who guide future school counselors during internships—can improve their confidence (self-efficacy) and ability to work with students from diverse cultural backgrounds (multicultural competence). We compared in-person workshops with online training and looked at whether results differed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both formats improved supervisors’ confidence, but in-person training led to greater growth in multicultural knowledge and awareness.
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Why is it important?
Effective supervision is critical to preparing school counselors to serve today’s diverse student populations. Yet site supervisors often receive little formal training. This research shows that structured training can make supervisors more confident and culturally responsive, with meaningful implications for counselor education programs. The findings are especially timely given the rapid shift to online learning during the pandemic, offering guidance for how professional training can be effective in both face-to-face and virtual formats.
Perspectives
As someone who has trained school counselors and worked closely with school districts, I have seen how much site supervisors influence the growth of future counselors. Our hope is that this study helps counselor education programs, districts, and professional organizations see the importance of investing in structured training for supervisors—whether delivered online or in person. Ultimately, this work is about equipping supervisors to support emerging counselors in meeting the diverse needs of students and schools.
Dr. Carleton Brown
University of Texas at El Paso
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Cultivating School Counseling Site Supervisors' Self‐Efficacy and Multicultural Competence: Comparing In‐Person and Web‐Based Formats Before and During the COVID‐19 Pandemic, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, September 2025, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/jmcd.70004.
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