Long Distance Live Supervision: Transforming the Training Environment

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Long Distance Live Supervision Transforming
theTraining Environment

• Mark A. Young, Ph.D. James A.
  Young, MSW
• Gonzaga University Virginia Commonwealth
  University

ACES 2009
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Definition of Supervision

• An ongoing educational process in which one
  person in the role of supervisors helps another
  person in the role of supervisee acquire
  appropriate professional behavior through an
  examination of the trainees professional
  activities.
• Hart, G. (1982)

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Definition of Supervision

• An intervention provided by a more senior member
  of a profession to a more junior member or
  members of that same profession. This
  relationship is evaluative, extends over time,
  and has the simultaneous purposes of enhancing
  the professional functioning of the more junior
  person(s), monitoring the quality of professional
  services offered to the client(s) she, he, or
  they see(s), and serving as a gatekeeper of those
  who are to enter the particular profession.
• Bernard, J. Goodyear, R. (1998)

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Keys to Live Supervision

• Pre-session planning
• In-session interventions
• Post-session review

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Long Distance Live Supervision

• Using new technologies to bring supervisors and
  supervisees together regardless of location
• Provides opportunities for us to take advantage
  of the benefits of live supervision
• Changes the training environment for requiring
  on-site training facilities to now including
  distance practicum and internship sites

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Keys to Long Distance Live Supervision

• Proper equipment
• Computer, webcam, microphones
• Proper internet connection
• Video Conferencing Program
• Skype, oovoo, gmail, dimdim
• Screen sharing
• Supervision agreement
• Confidentiality
• Clients, practicum/internship sites

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Types of Live Supervision

• Supervisor is in the session
• Co-therapy
• Monitoring
• In-Vivo

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Co-therapy

• Supervisor works directly with the client(s)
  along with supervisee
• Need to determine each persons role
• Feedback is given post-session
• Can model interventions/relationship

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Monitoring

• Supervisor observes the session and intervenes
  directly with the client(s)
• May be used as a form of consultation
• Allows supervisor to directly experience the
  dynamics of the session
• Supervisee may benefit from the modeling provided
  by supervisor

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In-vivo

• Rather than taking over for the supervisee, the
  supervisor consults with the supervisee in view
  of the client(s)
• Gives client(s) access to information from
  supervisor
• Consultation may be used as an intervention
• Feedback is given post-session
• Supports supervisee without direct interventions

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Types of Live Supervision

• Supervisor is outside the session
• Live observation
• Walk-in
• Phone-in
• Consultation break
• Bug-in-the-ear
• Bug-in-the-eye
• Team Supervision

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Live Observation

• Supervisor observes session but does not
  intervene during session
• Notes are made during session and feedback given
  post-session
• May be given immediately after the session
• May be offered during a later meeting
• Affords supervisor more complete picture of
  session

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The Walk-in

• Supervisor enters session at deliberate moment
• May intervene in several ways
• Directly with supervisee or with client(s)
• Can be used in emergency, may be used to redirect
  session, and to establish certain dynamics

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The Phone-in

• Supervisor observes session from outside the room
• Calls in to offer feedback, direction, or insight
• Allows two-way conversation
• May use an intercom system or telephone
• Telephone keeps the supervisors comments private

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Consultation Breaks

• Supervisor observes session from outside the room
• Supervisee leaves the session to interact with
  the supervisor
• Allows two-way conversation
• Allows opportunity to clarify before returning
• Both supervisor and supervisee can determine when
  the break occurs

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Bug-in-the-ear

• Supervisor observes session from outside the room
• Input is given through an ear piece
• Allows for minor adjustments or brief
  reinforcement without interrupting the flow
• May protect the therapeutic relationship because
  clients are unaware which comments are the direct
  suggestion of the supervisor

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Bug-in-the-eye

• Supervisor observes from outside the room
• Input is given through a monitor placed in the
  counseling room
• Often placed either between counselor/client or
  behind client
• Allows the supervisee freedom to choose when to
  view the input

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Team Supervision

• Several forms can be applied
• Supervisor(s) and several supervisees view live
  session from another room
• Allows for teaching during live session
• Allows for greater range of feedback and
  vicarious learning
• Seen as counseling, supervision, and classroom
  all in one.

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Reflecting Teams

• Using a team of supervisor(s) and supervisees,
  the clients hear the team reflect on the session
• Different forms based on equipment/setting
• Rather than hear one message from the team, the
  client(s) is able to hear several
  messages/observations/suggestions

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Multiple Interventions

• Supervisors may employ several forms of live
  supervision to attain the best learning
  opportunity
• May be flexible given number of supervisees,
  clients, rooms, and equipment

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Keys to Consider

• Timing
• Location/Setting
• Equipment
• Training
• Relationships
• Ethics