A qualitative study of challenges faced by international doctoral students in counselor education supervision courses

Abstract

Using consensual qualitative research methodology, this study examines the challenges doctoral-level international students encountered in counselor education programs, during supervisor training, specifically. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants and revealed a variety of difficulties. Despite the wide variability in terms of national/ethnic origins and program locations, most of the participants perceived a lack of discussions on culture and diversity issues in the class and the absence of multicultural supervision models, with unsupportive peers and course instructors as the most challenging parts of their supervision training. Grounded in the themes emerging from the interview data, suggestions for supervision training were made as to constructing a supervision course and addressing international students’ needs for understanding cultural and environmental contexts found in the U.S. Given the exploratory nature of this study’s findings, future studies need to be conducted with a large representative sample of international doctoral students in supervisor training.