Abstract
Objective(s)
Psychologists’ experiences of an online training tool in metacommunication as well as an in‐supervisory metacommunication exercise were examined.
Method
A total of 101 participants completed a training tool in metacommunication and changes in self‐efficacy (SE) to use metacommunication with clients, the proportion of metacommunication used in vignette‐responses, and their willingness to use metacommunication in supervision were assessed pre‐ and posttraining and at 6‐week follow‐up. A total of 48 participants elected to undertake the in‐supervision exercise.
Results
Participants reported significantly higher willingness and self‐efficacy after completing the online training. They also showed a higher proportion of metacommunicative statements in their posttraining vignette responses compared with pretraining. The increase in willingness was retained at 6‐week follow‐up. There was an increase in self‐efficacy from pre‐ to postonline‐training, and this increased at follow‐up.
Conclusions
This opens the door to better developing metacommunication skills in supervisees through both online training and the metacommunication supervisory exercise. Areas for continued research are outlined.