4 Colo. Code Regs. § 736-1.7

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 1, January 10, 2025

Section 4 CCR 736-1.7 - SUPERVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH PRACTIONERS FOR NONLICENSURE PURPOSES AND SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS (C.R.S. sections 12-245-222(2), 12-245-224(1)(n))

A.General. Supervision provides a source of knowledge, expertise, and more advanced skills to the person being supervised. The nature of this relationship depends on the respective skills of the two professionals involved, the client population and/or the specific client being served. It is usually ongoing, required, and hierarchical in nature. This Rule does not apply to the supervision required prior to persons seeking licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist.

B.Terms.

1.Clinical Supervision occurs when there is close, ongoing review and direction of a supervisee's clinical practice.

2.Consultation describes a voluntary relationship between professionals of relative equal expertise or status wherein the consultant offers her/his best advice or information on an individual case or problem for use by the consultee as s/he deems appropriate in her/his professional judgment.

3.Administrative supervisor is the person who bears responsibility for the non-clinical functioning of an employee, such as performance appraisals, personnel decisions, etc. The administrative supervisor may be held accountable for misconduct by a licensed marriage and family therapist when s/he knew or should have known of a violation of generally accepted standards of practice or any prohibited activity and when s/he had responsibility for corrective administrative action and failed to act.

4.Modes of Supervision. Includes but not be limited to individual, group, telephone, electronic mail, audio-visual, process recording, direct observation, telesupervision, telecommunication (teleconferencing, fax, videotapes), and hospital rounds. The appropriate modality of supervision shall be determined by the training, education, and experience of the supervisee, and the treatment setting (i.e. urban/rural, or the availability of resources and at all times based on community standards and client needs). The level of supervision provided, including whether every case is directly supervised and whether the supervisor meets with the client, is determined by the education, training, and experience of the supervisee, the specific needs of the clients being served, and the professional judgment of the supervisor. Nothing in this Rule should be assumed to abridge the rights of the client to a reasonable standard of care.

B.Supervision Shall Include But is Not Limited to The Following:

1. Monitoring the supervisee's activities to verify s/he is providing services that meet generally accepted standards of practice.

2. Verifying that it is the practice of any supervisee to provide the mandatory disclosure form as required pursuant to section 12-245-216, C.R.S.

3. If appropriate, verifying that clients are informed as to any changes in the supervisory relationship.

4. Giving an adequate termination of supervision notice to the supervisee.

5. Keeping records that document supervision that meet the generally accepted standards of practice.

6. Assisting the supervisee in becoming aware of and adhering to all legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities.

7. Assuring that no inappropriate relationships exist between the supervisor and supervisee, and supervisor and client.

8. Assuring that no inappropriate relationships exist between the supervisor and supervisee, and supervisor and client.

9. Assisting to assure that the supervisee is in compliance with the Mental Health Practice Act.

10. Verifying and assuring the supervisee is in compliance with any existing restricted licensure, certification or registration status or probation.

C.Supervisor Qualifications.

1. The supervisor shall have sufficient knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional standards relevant to the clients being served.

2. The supervisor shall have clinical experience and competence adequate to perform and direct the services provided by the supervisee, including but not limited to substantially equivalent education and training to that of a licensed marriage and family therapist

4 CCR 736-1.7

39 CR 07, April 10, 2016, effective 5/2/2016

43 CR 22, November 25, 2020, effective 12/15/2020

44 CR 11, June 10, 2021, effective 6/30/2021

44 CR 23, December 10, 2021, effective 12/30/2021

45 CR 22, November 25, 2022, effective 12/15/2022