NCJ Number
179881
Journal
Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: October 1999 Pages: 15-25
Date Published
1999
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A national survey of drug abuse counselors focused on their current and preferred supervision practices.
Abstract
The three-stage mailing procedure called the Dillman Total Design Method collected data using an initial letter and questionnaire, a reminder postcard 1 week later, and a complete packet mailed to nonrespondents 2 weeks later. Responses came from 134 of the 379 randomly selected members of the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors. Participants provided information on the demographic characteristics of their typical client, their current supervisory experiences, their preferred supervisory experiences, and their own demographic characteristics. The data analyses focused on descriptive statistics and differences in preferences for supervision based on counselor recovery status and counselor recovery level. Fifty-five percent of the participants were female, 87 percent were white, and the average age was 49 years. Fifty-eight percent reported being in recovery from drug addition; 48 percent reported graduate-level training or a graduate degree. They reported an average of 10 years of full-time counseling work experience and over 700 years of face-to-face clinical supervision during their work experience. Typical clients were white males. Fifty-eight percent of the participants indicated that individual clinical supervision was the primary means of supervision. Findings indicated that drug abuse counselors receive supervision similar to other counselors, that they would prefer supervision that is more proactive and intentional than reactive, and that they are receiving clinical supervision and are satisfied with it. Table and 19 references