Incorporating Case Conceptualization Drawing in Counselor Group Supervision: A Grounded Theory Study

While the counseling community embraces the use of creative approaches in counseling and supervision, few researchers have attempted to empirically describe the process of including an art-based technique into counselor group supervision. A grounded theory design guided the exploration of including a case conceptualization drawing technique into six counselor supervision groups. Six doctoral-level supervisors, who were trained in an art-based technique, introduced the method to their group supervisees who were completing a practicum or internship. Data collection methods included individual and focus-group interviews, observations of visual case presentations, document reviews of visual case drawings, and journal-prompted inquiries. Results indicated that supervisor training in an art-based technique is a condition for yielding positive outcomes for counselor trainee development, client treatment, and the supervision group process.