Being an effective supervisor is an essential factor in the counseling field. Since the nature of counseling can change frequently based on issues that could arise at any given moment, the role of a clinical supervisor can be a complicated position. Without the necessary aptitude for building relationships of mutual trust with counselors, therapists, and other staff, a clinical supervisor may experience high turnover. If you are a clinical supervisor, you should consider completing a clinical supervision training program to learn the following skills and better ensure that your employees have the support they need to succeed.

1) How to prepare for a supervision session

Clinical supervision training is instrumental in guiding supervisors through coaching sessions with employees. You will learn what topics should be discussed and how to create efficient meeting agendas. Clinical supervision training also teaches supervisors how to encourage participation in the session to optimize session time. Some clinical supervision courses even focus on how a supervisor can create coaching sessions that are conversational, allowing employees to take a more active role in the meeting. This helps employees take initiative for their own self-growth so that supervisors can take on a consultant role. Clinical supervision training will ensure that you are always ready to effectively mentor your employees.

2) How to handle ethical concerns from a supervisory standpoint

Professional development training courses are the most successful when they include examples for application. Most clinical supervision training programs incorporate a large number of relevant case studies to help supervisors understand how to tackle a variety of different situations that could actually occur. Some of the most important concerns that you must address as a clinical supervisor are ethical issues. This includes maintaining boundaries, preserving confidentiality, and showing sensitivity to different patient cultures. Clinical supervision training presents case studies and role play examples that show how a supervisor can handle a difficult conversation with an employee when an ethical boundary is crossed during a counseling session. Clinical supervision training will give you real-world guidance on how to hold your employees accountable for ethical responsibilities to clients and patients.

3) How to use self-assessment tools

Clinical supervisors should strive to continuously improve themselves as well as their employees. An effective way to achieve this is through self-assessment. Clinical supervision training programs will give you tools to reflect upon your supervision-related abilities. The training helps you look at what you are doing well in supervisory sessions and what must be improved upon in the future. This includes factors such as your ability to assist employees in connecting theory with practice, skill in modeling valuable clinical knowledge, and success in identifying or mitigating the signs of counseling countertransference in employees. 

Clinical supervision training will show supervisors how to remain competent and effective in a supervisory role, ensure ethical responsibility amongst their employees, and continue developing professionally.

For more information, contact a clinical supervision training program.