Supervision in the Recovery Field: Guiding Clinicians & Psychotherapists Providing Substance Abuse Treatment

Fulfills Requirement: Supervision

This course focuses on supervision issues as they relate to substance abuse and recovery. According to several government agencies and other resources, alcoholism and drug addiction have continued to increase, and yet the number of people receiving treatment is likely only 12% of the affected population. As the US reorganizes its delivery of medical care in the 21^st century, the number of addicts who receive outpatient or inpatient treatment is likely to significantly increase. In a field in which clinical supervision has not historically been required, the recovery industry and drug and alcohol abuse treatments are making strides to catch up.

This introductory course is based primarily on a Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The supervision of clinicians serving in the Recovery industry is reviewed comprehensively. Principles of, models for and stages of supervision are summarized, as are cultural, contextual, ethical and legal concerns. Additionally, issues that are specific to the supervision of healthcare professionals in inpatient settings are also described. This article outlines ways to determine organizational readiness to implement supervision practices, as well as the specifics of developing both clinical and administrative supervision plans. Vignettes are provided so that students can apply what they have read and grasp the subtle issues inherent in the practice of supervision. Additional resources and references are provided for further study, but they are not part of the course.

Disclaimer: This course is purely educational and does not intend to serve as a license (or permission) to mental health professionals to prescribe or practice any of the approaches discussed in this course unless they fall within the scope of practice of your profession. Check with your licensing board about the scope of practice of your profession to make sure you practice within that scope. It also does not serve as a permission to title yourself in any specific way.