N.M. Admin. Code § 16.27.19.9

Current through Register Vol. 36, No. 1, January 14, 2025

Section 16.27.19.9 - SUPERVISORY ROLE

A. The primary obligation of supervisors is to train counselors and therapists so that they respect the integrity and promote the welfare of the client. Inherent and integral to the role of supervisor are responsibilities for:

(1) monitoring client welfare;

(2) encouraging compliance with relevant legal, ethical, and professional standards for clinical practice;

(3) monitoring clinical performance, qualifications and professional development of supervisees;

(4) evaluating and certifying current performance and potential of supervisees for academic, screening, selection, placement, employment, and credentialing purposes;

(5) tracking supervisee's professionalism and ethical conduct; and

(6) documentation to include a supervisory agreement and a supervision log to include notes

B. Supervisors shall obtain and maintain the supervisor designation issued by the board prior to initiating their role as supervisors.

C. Supervisors shall inform their supervisees of professional and ethical standards and legal responsibilities of the counseling and therapy profession.

D. Supervisors of postgraduate counselors and therapists who are seeking state licensure should encourage these counselors and therapists to adhere to the standards for practice established by the state licensure board of the state in which they practice.

E. Procedures for contacting the supervisor, or an alternative supervisor, to assist in handling crisis situations shall be established and communicated to supervisees.

F. Actual work samples via session process notes, audio or video tape or live observation in addition to case notes shall be reviewed by the supervisor as a regular part of the ongoing supervisory process.

G. Supervisors shall meet regularly in face-to-face or virtual sessions with their supervisees.

H. Supervisors shall provide supervisees with ongoing feedback on their performance. This feedback should take a variety of forms, both formal and informal, and should include verbal and written evaluations. It should be formative during the supervisory experience and summative at the conclusion of the experience.

I. Supervisors who have multiple roles (e.g., teacher, clinical supervisor, administrative supervisor, etc.) with supervisees shall minimize potential conflicts. Where possible, the roles should be divided among several and it should be conveyed to the supervisee as to the expectations and responsibilities associated with each supervisory role.

J. Supervisors shall not participate in any form of sexual contact with supervisees. Dual relationships with supervisees that might impair the supervisor's objectivity and professional judgment should be avoided and the supervisory relationship terminated.

K. Supervisors shall not establish a psychotherapeutic relationship as a substitute for supervision. Personal issues should be addressed in supervision only in terms of the impact of these issues on clients and on professional functioning.

L. Supervisors, through ongoing supervisee assessment and evaluation, should be aware of any personal or professional limitations of supervisees which are likely to impede future professional performance. Supervisors have the responsibility of recommending remedial assistance to the supervisee and of screening from the training program, applied counseling setting, or state licensure those supervisees who are unable to provide competent professional services. These recommendations should be clearly and professionally explained in writing to the supervisees who are so evaluated.

M. Supervisors shall not endorse a supervisee for certification, licensure, completion of an academic training program, or continued employment if the supervisor believes the supervisee is impaired in any way that would interfere with the performance of counseling and therapy duties. The presence of any such impairment should begin a process of feedback and remediation wherever possible so that the supervisee understands the nature of the impairment and has the opportunity to remedy the problem and continue with their professional development.

N. Supervisors shall supervise clinical work only in areas where they are fully competent, and experienced.

O. Supervisors shall inform supervisees of the goals, policies, theoretical orientations toward counseling/therapy, training, and supervision model or approach on which the supervision is based.

P. Supervisors shall use the following prioritized sequence in resolving conflicts among the needs of the client, the needs of the supervisee, and the needs of the program or agency. Insofar as the client must be protected, it shall be understood that client welfare is usually subsumed in federal and state laws such that these statutes should be the first point of reference. Where laws and ethical standards are not present or are unclear, the good judgment of the supervisor shall be guided by the following list:

(1) relevant legal and ethical standards (e.g. duty to warn, state child abuse laws, etc.);

(2) client welfare;

(3) supervisee welfare;

(4) supervisor welfare; and

(5) program or agency service and administrative needs.

Q. Supervised contact hours shall not exceed 40 hours per week.

N.M. Admin. Code § 16.27.19.9

16.27.19.9 NMAC- Rp 16 NMAC 27.16.9, 6-15-01; A, 2-10-06, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 22, November 30, 2021, eff. 11/30/2021