Relationship Between Novice Counselors' Supervisory Attachments and Boundary Practices and Perceptions

Relationship Between Novice Counselors’ Supervisory Attachments and Boundary Practices and Perceptions by Glenda Hill Nanna MA, Columbia International University, 2000 BS, Wayland Baptist University, 1994 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision Walden University February 2020 Abstract Novice counselors may struggle to understand and follow ethical guidelines for boundary behaviors with clients. When counselors violate therapeutic boundaries, harmful consequences can result for clients and counselors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the possible relationship between novice counselors’ (NCs’) attachment to supervisors and NCs’ ethical perceptions and boundary practices. This study addressed the possible predictor variables of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting. Bowlby’s attachment theory provided the framework for the study. Survey data from 114 NCs were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression. Each regression analyzed predictors of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting in model 1 and added level of attachment anxiety and level of attachment avoidance to supervisor in model 2. Findings indicated that NCs’ level of anxious attachment predicted serious boundary violations (BVs). Those with higher levels of attachment anxiety reported more BVs and perceived more items as BVs. Level of attachment avoidance also distorted ethical perceptions; those high in attachment avoidance considered more items to be boundary crossings and BVs. The variables of age, male gender, and an urban practice setting significantly predicted higher reported boundary crossings. Males more often did not consider behaviors to be BVs, and more females agreed with expert perceptions of items which were neither a boundary crossing nor a BV. Age was significant but contrary to previous findings because in this sample, as age increased, reported BVs decreased. Findings may lead to changes in how counselor educators and supervisors train NCs to manage boundaries in therapeutic relationships.Novice counselors may struggle to understand and follow ethical guidelines for boundary behaviors with clients. When counselors violate therapeutic boundaries, harmful consequences can result for clients and counselors. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the possible relationship between novice counselors’ (NCs’) attachment to supervisors and NCs’ ethical perceptions and boundary practices. This study addressed the possible predictor variables of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting. Bowlby’s attachment theory provided the framework for the study. Survey data from 114 NCs were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression. Each regression analyzed predictors of age, gender, relationship status, and practice setting in model 1 and added level of attachment anxiety and level of attachment avoidance to supervisor in model 2. Findings indicated that NCs’ level of anxious attachment predicted serious boundary violations (BVs). Those with higher levels of attachment anxiety reported more BVs and perceived more items as BVs. Level of attachment avoidance also distorted ethical perceptions; those high in attachment avoidance considered more items to be boundary crossings and BVs. The variables of age, male gender, and an urban practice setting significantly predicted higher reported boundary crossings. Males more often did not consider behaviors to be BVs, and more females agreed with expert perceptions of items which were neither a boundary crossing nor a BV. Age was significant but contrary to previous findings because in this sample, as age increased, reported BVs decreased. Findings may lead to changes in how counselor educators and supervisors train NCs to manage boundaries in therapeutic relationships. Relationship Between Novice Counselors’ Supervisory Attachments and Boundary Practices and Perceptions by Glenda Hill Nanna MA, Columbia International University 2000 BS, Wayland Baptist University, 1994 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counselor Education and Supervision Walden University February 2020 Dedication I would like to dedicate this to my amazing husband who has always encouraged me to follow my dreams. You have supported me financially and emotionally. You have sacrificed to help me achieve this dream. I have loved you since the day I met you and my love grows deeper each year. You are a rare man of passion, courage, devotion, and integrity. Thank you for being a servant-leader. Thank you, Bo, for loving me and bringing out the best in me. We have had so many wonderful years together these last 40 years. I cannot wait to see what the next 40 years will bring! Acknowledgments Thank you to Dr. Haley for incredible editing and amazing encouragement. Thank you to Dr. Champe for giving me guidance as my methodologist. I am so thankful for the best dissertation committee. A special thank you to Dr. Deena Shelton for extraordinary assistance throughout the entire journey with encouraging words, great resources, sound guidance, and faith in my ability to succeed. Thank you to all the incredible doctors who gave me guidance and encouragement: Dr. Christina Sinisi, Dr. Rufus Wofford, Dr. Matt Decker, Dr. Steve Johnson, and Dr. Allan McKechnie. Thank you to my amazing friends who supported me in this journey. Thank you, Ree Wolfe, for sending nourishment (cheesecake) to cheer me on. Thank you, Hope Chenault, for all your editing and formatting assistance. Thank you to my mom, Dorothy Hill, who often dropped everything to help me and the family. Mom watched the kids while I attended multiple residencies and was always ready to lend a hand. I would not exist without you giving me life, and I would not be where I am today without your unending love and assistance. Thank you to my husband, Bo, and my children, Bryan, Whit, Lindsay, Lauryn, Kylee, Lily, Brandon, and Brayden, for the sacrifices you made while I worked on this project. I hope you will all follow your dreams and put in the hard work to reach your goals. You are my greatest treasures! Thank you most of all to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has blessed me beyond measure with His love, His forgiveness, and the gift of salvation. He has guided my steps and enabled me to follow my dreams.