IJSP Number 6, 2024

57 In the present example the behaviour with low emphasis on the supervisor- therapist relationship does not mean that the supervisor is not sociable or friendly with the therapist. It means that observing how the therapist performs the counseling, the supervisor must spend more time coordinating the therapist on what, how, when and where to do the activities, rather than providing socio- emotional support. The behavior which is more oriented on the supervisor- therapist relationship should be used when the therapist starts to handle these counseling activities. At that point, the switch from S1 Style to S2 Style is advisable. The situational supervision theory suggests that: • while working with therapists with low experience/maturity (M1) in order to accomplish a given task, a supervision style with a high emphasis on tasks and low emphasis on the supervisor-therapist relationship (S1) has the highest probability of success. • in the relationships with therapists who demonstrate low to moderate experience/maturity (M2), adopting a style with a high emphasis on tasks and the socio-emotional aspect (S2) is indicated. • with those who have a high degree of experience/maturity (M3) in the context of performing a specific task, the leadership style with a high emphasis on the supervisor-therapist relationship and low emphasis on tasks (S3) has the highest probability of success. • a leading style with low emphasis on both the supervisor-therapist relationship and tasks (S4) is most likely to be successful while working with therapists with high experience/maturity in relation to the task (M4). • The four behaviours can be renamed according to Figure 6.5.: • S1 + M1 The behaviour with a high emphasis on the task and low emphasis on the supervisor-therapist relationship (S1) is called "transmission / command" . The style is characterized by a one-way communication in which the supervisor defines the role of the therapists and tells them what, where and how to solve a particular task. • S2 + M2 The behaviour with high emphasis on both the task and the supervisor-therapist relationship (S2) is called "persuasion / explanation" as most of the instructions are transmitted by the supervisor through this style. However, it provides two-way communication and socio-emotional support to involve psychologically the therapist in the decisions that need to be made. • S3 + M3 The behaviour with a high emphasis on the supervisor-therapist relationship and low emphasis on tasks (S3) is called "participation". Using this style the supervisor and therapists share decision-making through two-way communication and facilitating behaviour on the part of the supervisor, while the therapist has the necessary skill and knowledge to accomplish the task.