Canadian Certified Counsellor –
Supervisor (CCC-S)
CCPA Annual Conference
May 7-9, 2014
Dr Blythe Shepard, CCPA President
Dr Kim Hollihan, CCPA Senior Project Manager
Clinical Supervision
A professional relationship in which the supervisor is
“responsible for the development of the supervisee,
as well as the safety and quality of services delivered
to the client (s) by him or her” (Shepard & Martin, 2012,
p. 5).
Shepard, B. & Martin, L. (2012). Supervision of Counselling and Psychotherapy: A
Handbook for Canadian Certified Counsellors and Applicants. Ottawa, ON:
Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Clinical Supervision, cont.
• Clinical supervision is essential to professional
counselling and psychotherapy training and practice.
• Counsellors and psychotherapists in training must
meet entry-to-practice supervision requirements (ex.
CCC and regulatory colleges).
• All counsellors and psychotherapists have an ongoing
ethical obligation for supervision (ex. CCPA Code of
Ethics).
Roles of a Clinical Supervisor
• Teacher
• Consultant
• Coach
Responsibilities
Supervisor
Supervisee
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Ensure quality client care
Protect welfare of clients
Clarify expectations
Ensure contract in place
Create appropriate climate/
conditions
Observe supervisee counselling
Provide assessments
Practice a model of counselling
and supervision
Monitor own ethics/abilities
Identify goals
Be prepared and participate fully
Self-evaluate
Seek out and use feedback
Clarify process of evaluation
Provide feedback to supervisor
Discuss personal impact and
effectiveness of clinical work
• Determine a theoretical
orientation
• Be flexible
Benefits of Certifying
Clinical Supervisors
• Promotes professional credibility;
• Assures the public, employers, regulatory colleges, postsecondary institutions and practitioners of a minimum
standard of competency;
• Supports competent, professional services;
• Establishes a recognized credential of professional supervision
competency;
• Provides guidelines for new clinical supervisors; and
• Encourages continued professional development for clinical
supervisors.
Overview of CCC-S
Introduced in 2013, the CCC-S
designation is intended to certify
qualified clinical supervisors.
Application Pathways
Individuals can apply for the CCC-S designation using
one of the following pathways:
• Pathway One: CCPA-sponsored Graduate Coursework in
Clinical Supervision
• Pathway Two: Graduate Course in Clinical Supervision
• Pathway Three: Clinical Supervisor Training/Certification from
another Canadian or international professional association
• Pathway Four: Work Experience
Certification Requirements
Regardless of the pathway chosen, all applicants must
demonstrate that they satisfy the following
requirements:
• Be a certified member (CCC) in good standing with CCPA;
• Possess a minimum of 5 years of full-time equivalent clinical
experience as a practicing counsellor within the past 10 years
(10 years of experience for pathway 4);
• Have no active ethical complaints under investigation by an
Association, regulatory College, legal system or entity;
• Possess professional liability insurance;
Certification Requirements, cont.
• Sign an agreement indicating that they have read,
understood, and are committed to practising in accordance
with CCPA’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for
Counsellors;
• Submit a current CV/resumé or a portfolio;
• Submit a self-report describing current and past employment
and any supervision training and/or supervisory experiences;
and
• Participate in a face-to-face CCPA or pre-approved workshop
that includes review of recordings and/or role plays.
CCPA Clinical Supervision Workshop
• intermediate level workshop designed to integrate
foundational concepts and competencies in clinical
supervision
• meant to complement graduate level training in supervision
• workshop participants engage in reflective discussion and
practice
• provides an opportunity to engage in-person with other
clinical supervisors and learn from each other/the facilitator
• 4 regional workshops planned between now and May 2015
Certification Requirements, cont.
Regardless of the pathway chosen, all applicants must
commit to:
• two CCPA webinars on supervision within one year of
successful application for CCC-S
• ongoing professional development in the area of supervision
(of the 36 CECs required to renew certification, at least 12
must be in the area of supervision)
Pathway 1
CCPA-sponsored Graduate Coursework in Clinical
Supervision
• Successfully completes the masters course: Counselling
Supervision: Theory and Practice;
• Has verified supervisory activities in the past 2 years; and
• Has a minimum of 20 hours per year in a clinical, regularly
scheduled supervisory role to counsellors and/or counsellors
in training OR has supervised practicum students as a
counsellor educator at a regionally accredited institution or
AUCC-member university
Pathway 2
Graduate Course in Clinical Supervision
• Successfully completes a graduate level course in clinical
supervision from a regionally accredited (American)
institution or an AUCC-member (Canadian) institution,
preferably at the doctoral level
OR
• Successfully completes a graduate level course in clinical
supervision from an accredited doctoral program in a country
other than Canada
Pathway 2, cont.
• Has verified supervisory activities in the past 2 years
• Has a minimum of 20 hours per year in a clinical, regularly
scheduled supervisory role to counsellors and/or counsellors
in training OR has supervised practicum students as a
counsellor educator at a regionally accredited institution or
AUCC-member university
Pathway 3
Other Clinical Supervisor Training/Certification
• Has proof of supervisor qualification with another Canadian
or international professional association requiring its
members to meet equal or greater standards as CCPA's CCC-S
or is in possession of a national or state credential as a clinical
supervisor of equal or greater standard as CCPA's CCC-S
Pathway 4
Work Experience
• Has minimum of 10 years of full-time equivalent clinical
experience as a practising counsellor, counselling psychologist
or equivalent relevant experience.
• Submits 3 professional references from professionals in a noncompliant relationship with the applicant who knows the
applicant in his/her capacity as a clinical supervisor within the
past 10 years.
Pathway 4, cont.
• Has at least 5 years of prior experience with a minimum of 20
hours per year in a clinical supervisory role within the past 10
years, supervising other counsellors or counsellors-in-training
OR
• Has supervised practicum students as a counsellor educator at
a regionally accredited (American) institution or AUCCmember (Canadian) university
Renewal Requirements
• Maintain CCC credential
• Provide documentation attesting to supervision
provided and received (12 hours for each per year)
• Provide evidence of completion of CEC requirements
(12/36 CECs required for CCC must be in area of
supervision)
Questions or comments?
Thank you!
For Additional Information/Questions
http://www.ccpa-accp.ca/en/supervisorcriteria/
khollihan@ccpa-accp.ca
1-877-765-5565 ext 106