Technology for evidence-based cognitive behavioural supervision: new applications and research to improve organizational support

Abstract

There has recently been an increasing call for new research and development in cognitive behavioural supervision, particularly in the area of evidence-based clinical supervision. New developments in supervision technology offer the potential to answer this call by providing greater objective measurement and corrective feedback in supervision. In this article, two new technologies that hold particular promise in this area are described: software for routine outcome measurement and videoconference for internet-based live one-way-mirror supervision. Notable challenges involved in supervision technology are discussed, and an example of technology being integrated into a graduate clinical training programme is described.

Online Telesupervision: Competence Forged in a Pandemic

“…We only briefly touched on the other technologies that can be used to enhance the development of competencies in MFT, including the use of text chat and live remote supervision (Nadan et al, 2020;Rousmaniere, 2016;Rousmaniere & Frederickson, 2013). Given the vast majority of supervisees report that they hold back information from supervisors, the benefits of live supervision have long been valued in MFT and are manifold, including realtime feedback (Bartle-Haring et al, 2009;Ladany et al, 1996).…”

“…Some organizations have promulgated guidelines for conducing online supervision (e.g., the International Society for Mental Health Online, the American Counseling Association, and the American Psychological Association), but there is still a dearth of training models focused on OTS, let alone clarity around the potential challenges and benefits in creating such programs (Hilty et al, 2017;Inman et al, 2018;Maheu et al, 2018) When considering the use of technology in the clinical supervision process focus needs to be on technology both as a transmission mechanism and a medium. Of all the new technologies being applied to supervision and training, videoconferencing has quickly become the most widely used medium in practice (Hilty et al, 2017;Rousmaniere, 2016).…”

Supporting our supervisors: a Summary and Discussion of the Special Issue on CBT supervision

“…Paper 10: Technology for evidence-based cognitive behavioural supervision . Placing training issues in the context of the internet, Rousmaniere (2016) identifies two important technological advances that provide support for supervisors: software for routine outcome measurement (ROM), and the development of a remote live supervision application. While the use of standardized instruments for monitoring progress has been a mainstay of supervision and clinical practice in CBT, these new technology applications simplify routine outcome monitoring and offer rapid availability of outcome data in graphic form.…”

“…With higher demands on therapists and supervisors, such as the IAPT low intensity services, we believe that this type of decision support is going to be increasingly critical to effective supervision. Rousmaniere (2016) pairs this overview of software with a discussion of remote live supervision technology, which offers the benefits of direct real-time observation to staff at geographically distant and/or hard-to-reach locations. This technology provides immediate feedback to supervisees, either through text-based interventions (appearing on a computer screen visible only to the therapist), or by using a ‘bug-in-the-ear’ method of live supervision.…”

“…As Rousmaniere (2016) notes, live video-linked supervision will surely become more prevalent, creating widespread training opportunities. The American Psychological Association has published a statement called the ‘Guidelines for the Practice of Telepsychology’ (APA, 2013), in which clinical supervisors are encouraged to continue in-person supervision as the preferred choice (when possible), to be reasonably proficient in the technologies they are using, and to consult with knowledgeable others to reduce risks regarding the security of client data.…”