The short answer is yes. You can complete clinical supervision online. It’s a fantastic option for those seeking flexibility and opportunity. Let’s discuss clinical supervision in the substance abuse field and the benefits of digital clinical supervision options.
What Is Clinical Supervision?
According to the National Library of Medicine, “Clinical supervision is how counselors in the field learn. In concert with classroom education, clinical skills are acquired through practice, observation, feedback, and implementation of the recommendations derived from clinical supervision.”
Clinical supervision is the system in which counselors acquire new knowledge and skills for the substance abuse treatment profession. It acts as a bridge between the classroom and the field. You might think of it like training wheels. While in school, counselors learn how to counsel. They usually study within the field they intend to work in. Once the bookwork is finished and they’ve learned at least an idea of how to ride the figurative bicycle, clinical supervision puts training wheels on the bike for added support.
In North Carolina, a 300-hour supervised practicum is required to attain certification as a substance abuse counselor (CSAC).
Why Is Clinical Supervision Important?
Clinical supervision is important for more than just meeting state-level standards. It opens the door for counselors to build a support network. This network becomes vital throughout their career because it supports better outcomes, professional standards, and ethical boundaries.
The substance abuse professional who supervises you will likely become a mentor. As you grow and progress in your career, the relationship you build with your clinical supervisor will continue to serve as a source of support and clarity.
Opting for Online Clinical Supervision
The world in which we live and work is driven by technology. The Internet has become far more than an information tool. It connects us in vital ways more than ever and helps to meet the needs of those in unique and challenging situations.
In the substance abuse treatment field, online care and treatment options have become a staple that opens the door to assistance for more people than ever before. Online DWI classes are growing in use and bridge the gap for some of the most poverty-stricken demographics in need of aid. Unsurprisingly, counselors’ options for training and career growth are also growing online.
Clinical supervision takes place when a substance abuse counselor is working in a supervised manner. As more and more DWI service providers move to online service options, it makes sense that counselors can move their supervisory hours to more online-based opportunities.
If your goal is to work with clients online in any capacity, working with a clinical supervisor who already works with patients online will be beneficial. Since clinical supervision intends to bridge textbook knowledge with real-world experience and skill-building, working with a supervisor who is experienced with providing treatment online is ideal.
Choose Your Clinical Supervisor with Intent
The digital landscape presents unique challenges to counseling. A supervisor who works in this landscape can help you prepare for meeting and overcoming those challenges. When you choose a provider for clinical supervision, remember to ensure that they reflect your career goals and work within the areas and with the tools you also intend to occupy and use.
Clinical supervision will be a recurring tool throughout your career as you grow and advance. From certification to licensure, if that is your goal, supervisory hours should provide a current real-world structure designed to increase your skill and experience. This, in turn, will drive more positive outcomes for your clients.