Telesupervison policy for Clinical Psychology

Telesupervision is defined by the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation as “clinical supervision of psychological services through a synchronous audio and video format where the supervisor is not in the same physical facility as the trainee.” (Standards of Accreditation Implementing Regulation C-13D). C-13D requires that programs who use any telesupervision have an explicit policy about its use. Our policy is detailed below.

Our training clinic will make students aware of this policy and will ensure that faculty supervisors provide supervision consistent with this policy. In addition, any external traineeship placement that plans to utilize any telesupervision with our students will be made aware of this policy and will ensure that they provide supervision consistent with this policy (as documented in the signed placement letter of understanding).

According to the Standards of Accreditation, telesupervision cannot account for more than 50% of the total minimum required supervision at a given practicum site. Note that the policy applies only to the minimum number of required supervision hours that are dictated by the traineeship or practicum placement. For example, if a placement requires a minimum 1 hour of supervision weekly, then this policy applies to the first hour of supervision in that week. If additional supervision occurs beyond the minimum, then this policy does not apply.

According to the Standards of Accreditation, telesupervision cannot be utilized until a student has completed their first practicum experience, as it is the program’s responsibility to ensure that a student has had sufficient supervised experience and has a sufficient level of competence before utilizing telesupervision. Therefore, supervisors who are supervising students in the fall and spring semesters of their second year (first year in the training clinic) cannot utilize telesupervision with these students (unless it is supervision beyond whatever the minimum number of required supervision hours are).

Explicit rationale for using telesupervision:  In the circumstances when we permit telesupervision, it will be to allow students to participate in relevant clinical training that would not otherwise be available to them (for example, placements at a physical distance where using some telesupervision would allow some flexibility for the student’s travel and schedule).

Consistency with program aims: Limited use of telesupervision allows us to provide students with training in areas specific to their clinical and clinical research interests that would otherwise be hindered (such as distance placements).

How and when supervision is utilized: Telesupervision will be allowed, under the parameters already stated above, when the supervisor or supervisee is not able to be on-site and when the supervisor/placement is providing training that is not otherwise available from core faculty.

Determination of which trainees can participate: Trainees who have completed their first two semesters of practicum in the training clinic with face to face supervision, who have been rated as competent in their development of clinical skills by their supervisor, who have not shown any concerns about their responsiveness to supervision or their preparation for supervision sessions, and who completed the required telepsychology training, will be considered eligible for telesupervision.

Establishment of the relationship between supervisor and trainee: There must be at least one initial face to face meeting between supervisor and trainee to discuss the parameters of the telesupervision, standard operating procedures for the placement experience, and emergency procedures.

Responsibility of the supervisor for clinical cases:  The licensed professional conducting telesupervision must maintain full responsibility for clinical cases.  All aspects of clinical care must be fully compliant with state and federal law.

Management of non-scheduled consultation and crisis coverage. The traineeship placement must provide the student with an explicit plan for provision of consultation and how crises will be managed. Practicum placements within our clinic that use any telesupervision will follow our Clinic Policies and Procedures manual.

Privacy and confidentiality: The traineeship placement must provide the student with specific guidelines about how privacy and confidentiality will be maintained (for example, restrictions on the technology used or the location in which supervisor/student will be during supervision sessions). Practicum placements using any telesupervision will follow our Clinic Policies and Procedures manual.

Technology requirements and technology training: As noted above, all students will have completed our required telepsychology training prior to engaging in telesupervision in any training setting. Practicum placements within our clinic that use any telesupervision will follow our Clinic Policies and Procedures manual with regard to the technology that will be used for telesupervision. Supervisors of traineeship placements that utilize telesupervision are responsible for ensuring that any required technology is available to conduct telesupervision and that the supervisor is adequately trained on technology. If the traineeship placement requires additional telepsychology training beyond what we already require, they will inform the student and ensure that training is completed prior to utilizing telesupervision with the student.