3 Questions to Consider Before Dedicating Yourself to a Supervisee
By Chris Campassi
Taking on the role of a clinical supervisor in mental health counseling is an important responsibility. As a supervisor, you’re not only guiding a supervisee’s professional development but also ensuring their clients receive ethical, competent care. Before committing to supervising someone, it’s essential to reflect on whether you’re ready for the role. Here are three key questions to consider before dedicating yourself to a supervisee.
Does the Supervisee Practice Ethically?
Ethical practice is the cornerstone of clinical work. As a clinical supervisor, part of your responsibility is to ensure that your supervisee adheres to ethical guidelines. When deciding whether to take on a supervisee, ask yourself:
- Does this individual practice ethically?
- Are they familiar with and do they follow the ethical codes and standards required by their profession?
A supervisee’s ability to handle ethical dilemmas, such as confidentiality issues, dual relationships, or informed consent, reflects their commitment to providing responsible care. In clinical supervision, it’s important to assess how well the supervisee understands and applies these ethical principles in their practice. Ethical concerns should be addressed early in supervision to prevent future issues.
During your initial conversations, consider discussing real-world ethical scenarios to gauge how the supervisee approaches these challenges. Their responses can give you insight into their level of ethical awareness and commitment to ongoing professional development. As their supervisor, you will be responsible for ensuring they remain accountable to ethical standards, so this foundation is crucial.
Does the Supervisee Work with a Population Within Your Scope?
One of the primary roles of clinical supervision is to offer expertise in the supervisee’s area of practice. Therefore, before accepting a supervisee, you should assess whether their client population and clinical focus align with your own scope of competence. Supervisors must be well-versed in the clinical issues their supervisees encounter in order to offer meaningful guidance.
For instance, if you specialize in trauma therapy for adults but the supervisee works predominantly with children or individuals with substance use disorders, you may not be able to provide the specialized support they need. Clinical supervision is most effective when there is a match between the supervisor’s experience and the supervisee’s practice needs.
Before committing to a supervisory relationship, have an open discussion about the types of clients the supervisee is working with and the clinical challenges they face. If their work falls outside of your scope, it’s essential to consider whether you can still offer adequate supervision or if referring them to another supervisor would be more beneficial for their growth.
Is the Supervisee Receiving Supervision at the Work Site?
Another critical question to consider is whether the supervisee is already receiving supervision at their place of work. Some organizations provide in-house supervision, focusing on administrative and performance-based goals, while others may not offer any supervision at all. Understanding this dynamic is important because it affects the type of support you provide.
If your supervisee is already receiving supervision at their worksite, it’s important to clarify what aspects of their professional development that supervision covers. Worksite supervision often deals with logistics and meeting organizational goals, while clinical supervision focuses more on therapeutic skills, ethical dilemmas, and case management.
In situations where the supervisee isn’t receiving any supervision at their worksite, your role becomes even more critical. You’ll need to ensure that you cover both the clinical and professional development aspects of their practice. Either way, knowing their current supervision situation allows you to tailor your approach and avoid redundancy in support.
Dedicating yourself to a supervisee requires thoughtful consideration. Before committing, ask yourself whether the supervisee practices ethically, whether they work with a population within your scope of expertise, and whether they are receiving supervision at their worksite. Answering these questions will help you determine if you’re ready to provide the necessary guidance and support.
Ultimately, effective clinical supervision fosters the professional growth of the supervisee while ensuring the ethical and competent care of clients. If you are a clinical supervisor and are seeking consultation for your supervision, Firelight Supervision offers virtual supervision of supervision services for clinical supervisors like you! Schedule a free phone consultation today to learn more about our individual and group sup of sup services!
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If you are interested in Clinical Consultation, check out all of our Team of Supervisors here at Firelight Supervision, and reach out today for a free phone consultation to see who would be a good fit for you!
Author Bio
Chris Campassi is an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) and Program Coordinator of Firelight Supervision. He is a licensed psychotherapist in Colorado and North Carolina, blogger, and clinical supervisor for provisionally-licensed and independently licensed therapists. Chris enjoys helping men, medical professionals, and former athletes manage their anxiety and stress so they can live fulfilled and balanced lives. Follow Firelight Supervision on Instagram and Facebook.
