Mastering Law & Ethics for Clinical Supervisors

About the Course

Designed for LCSWs, LMFTs, and LPCCs who provide clinical supervision, this practical course equips supervisors with the knowledge, frameworks, and real-world strategies needed to navigate the complex legal and ethical responsibilities of supervision with confidence. Through case-based examples and practical guidance, you'll strengthen your ability to address issues such as confidentiality, informed consent, mandated reporting, dual relationships, supervisee competence, documentation, and supervisory liability.

Throughout the course, you'll develop greater confidence in managing ethical dilemmas, strengthen your risk management skills, and gain a clearer understanding of your legal and ethical responsibilities as a clinical supervisor. You'll also receive practical supervision resources—including supervision contract guidelines, a supervision note template, a supervisee evaluation form, and a remediation plan template that can be immediately incorporated into your supervision practice. By the end of the course, you'll be better prepared to provide high-quality supervision, reduce liability, protect your license, and apply practical, evidence-informed strategies to your day-to-day supervisory work.

Learning Objectives

Participants of this course will be able to:

1.     Describe key ethical standards for clinical supervision outlined in professional codes of ethics.

2.     Apply ethical decision-making models to analyze complex ethical dilemmas that arise in clinical supervision.

3.     Explain the ethical responsibilities of clinical supervisors related to competence, including evaluating supervisee performance and practicing within areas of professional expertise.

4.     Identify legal and ethical requirements for confidentiality in clinical supervision, including client consent and limits of confidentiality.

5.     Recognize ethical risks associated with dual or multiple relationships in supervision and identify strategies to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

6.     Differentiate between direct and vicarious liability in clinical supervision and describe strategies supervisors can use to reduce legal risk.

7. Describe the three elements of a supervisory relationship that build safety and trust which mitigate risk.

Meet Your Instructor

Sharon Greene, LCSW is a nationally recognized expert in clinical supervision, law and ethics, and continuing education for mental health professionals, with over 20 years of experience.

• Training Director, Providence Saint John’s Child & Family Development Center
• Adjunct Faculty: UCLA, USC, CSUN (Graduate Schools of Social Work)
• CE Trainer for PESI, Therapist Development Center, Professional Psych Seminars, LA County Office of Education and other organizations
• National trainer in competency-based clinical supervision

Her courses are known for being practical, engaging, and immediately applicable to real-world supervision.