Foundations of Clinical Supervision

online/Zoom

registration deadline 10/10/25

Trainer:

Samson Teklemariam, LPC, CPTM, is the Vice President of Clinical Services for Behavioral Health Group (BHG). Samson also serves as the Southeast Regional Vice President for NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. He is an accomplished leader with a history of driving organizational results with learning and development solutions. He was formerly the Director of Training and Professional Development for NAADAC and National Director of Learning and Development for Phoenix House Foundation. Samson is a certified lea trainer for the Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abuse (CBISA) curriculum, Calm Every Storm: Crisis Prevention & Intervention curriculum, and experienced in treating trauma-related disorders using trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TFCBT) and Seeking Safety.

Description:

Clinical supervision is not just a regulatory requirement; it’s a critical mechanism for developing effective and ethical addiction treatment professionals in a dynamic and continuously evolving field. In this interactive training, participants will engage in practical exercises, case studies, and collaborative discussions that reflect the evolving demands of supervision in substance use disorder (SUD) settings. We will briefly revisit foundational definitions and historical frameworks, then shift toward applied strategies
for structuring effective supervision, using data to inform clinical growth, and improving documentation practices through quality improvement methods. This training is designed for supervisors who want to elevate their practice and confidently support counselor development in real-world, high-stakes environments.

Agenda:

Morning | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 Understanding clinical supervision in modern context
 Exploring roles and boundaries of supervisors
 Core components of supervision structure
 Common barriers to effective supervision
Break: 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
 Giving and receiving feedback: Creating a feedback culture
 Practice: Clinical Supervision Scenarios Practice
 Role-play exercise: Setting structure, expectation, and creating a feedback culture

Lunch Break | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Afternoon Session | 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
 Self-care for leaders: building team resilience
 Using data to guide supervision decisions
 Interpreting supervision dashboards and trends
 Coaching through documentation and follow-up
Break: 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
 Applying CQI to documentation practices
 Case scenarios: Real-world supervision dilemmas
 Personal reflection and supervision action planning
 Wrap-up/Q&A/Adjourn

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able describe the foundational purpose of clinical supervision and how its role has evolved within SUD treatment.
2. Participants will be able to apply a structured, intentional approach to supervision that incorporates documentation, feedback, and follow-up.
3. Participants will be able to use data-informed strategies to identify counselor development needs and track growth over time.
4. Participants will be able to implement documentation improvement methods using principles of continual quality improvement.
5. Participants will be able to practice resolving common supervisory dilemmas through guided scenarios and role-play.