Clinical supervision is more than oversight – it's a dynamic, reflective and relational process that fosters growth, deepens clinical insight and elevates professional practice. As Hawkins and Shohet (2012) describe, it is “a joint endeavour in which a practitioner, with the help of a supervisor, attends to their clients, themselves as part of their client-practitioner relationship and the wider systemic context, and by doing so improves the quality of their work, transforms their client relationships, continuously develops themselves, their practice and the wider profession” 1 (p. 5).
This certificate is designed for social workers, counsellors and psychotherapists who want to grow as clinical supervisors or who are preparing to take on supervisory roles. Whether you're newly stepping into supervision or looking to refine your approach, this program offers the theoretical foundation and practical tools to support ethical, effective and culturally responsive supervision.
Through this experiential and reflective learning journey, you will:
- Explore a range of supervision theories and models to support diverse learning styles and clinical settings.
- Strengthen your understanding of the supervisor-supervisee relationship and how to navigate power, trust and role boundaries.
- Deepen your cultural humility and competence to support inclusive, equity-informed supervision.
- Examine the ethical responsibilities of supervision, including accountability, confidentiality and scope of practice.
- Reflect on your own use of self in supervision and how personal and professional identities influence your approach.
- Navigate common challenges in supervision, such as managing conflict, addressing burnout and supporting supervisees through complex work.
But the end of the program, you'll be equipped to foster supervision relationships that are collaborative, ethical and transformative.
1 Hawkins, P., & Shohet, R. (2012). EBOOK: Supervision in the Helping Professions. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Prerequisites
Introduction to Clinical Supervision, or an approved equivalent, is a prerequisite to all other courses. For information about approved equivalent courses, please contact fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca.
Completion Requirements
To earn the Clinical Supervision certificate, you must complete seven courses from the list on the right. The program is flexible – you can finish in as little as one year or take up to seven years. You do not have to be working towards the Clinical Supervision certificate to take any of these courses.
Participation and Attendance
Full attendance and participation are required to complete these courses. You are required, as much as possible, to have your camera on. We know there are situations where this is not possible, so please send a message to your instructor or the Professional Development host to let them know that you are unable to turn on your camera. Our courses are interactive and include breakout rooms, role play, group discussions and other activities. Participation is required.
Four + Discount
Register for four or more courses at the same time to receive a 10% discount on each course. To qualify, you must complete registration and payment for all courses in a single transaction. The discount is non-cumulative and cannot be applied retroactively. If discount is not applied at time of registration, contact fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca for assistance before payment. Discounts cannot be applied after registration has been completed.
Becoming a Therapist
The Clinical Supervision certificate does not qualify you for registration with any regulatory body (e.g. Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) or to practice as a licensed therapist. To become a regulated therapist, please visit the website for the appropriate regulatory body in your province.
Becoming an Approved Clinical Supervisor
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Delivery Options
The Clinical Supervision certificate courses are available remotely through Zoom.
Registration
This certificate is open to regulated mental health professionals (e.g. RSW, PR, psychologist, NP, RN, clergy, clinical counsellors etc.).
No application required. To register, choose a course and section to view the dates and cost. Add the course to your cart and complete payment. Please review the prerequisites above.
Contact Information
For more information about this certificate contact the Faculty of Social Work Professional Development office:
Email: fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca
Phone: 548-889-4967
See our website and Frequently Asked Questions for more information.