Navigating the landscape of supervision in the realm of teletherapy presents a multifaceted challenge, one that resonates with private practice owners, managers, teletherapy company professionals, graduate school clinic supervisors, and Lead SLPs alike. As the digital age reshapes the paradigms of professional interaction, the traditional dynamics of supervision undergo a metamorphosis, blending remote connectivity with the essential elements of mentorship and guidance. Taking on the challenge of supervising via teletherapy unveils both opportunities and intricacies, demanding a nuanced approach to foster growth, competence, and ethical practice in a virtual setting.
I’ve had the pleasure of being a lead and supervising other speech-language pathologists in a teletherapy setting. If you find yourself new in this position, you may have a few questions pop into your mind. How will this even work? Believe it or not, it can be just as smooth or smoother than in-person supervising. One major perk is that much of your communication will be over email so everything will be in writing.
Odds are the therapists you’re supervising are new to teletherapy and could use some (or quite a bit) of support. From my experience, my role as a supervisor turned into less of a model therapist and more of a trainer in providing virtual services. I spoke with SLPs with decades of experience, but they’d look like a deer in headlights when using virtual therapy terminology. You never know if you’re about to supervise someone who is familiar with something as simple as Google Docs and PowerPoint (for example) or not. Have patience and remind yourself what it feels like to learn something incredibly foreign and out of reach.
Here is a sample checklist of things to do if you are just getting started supervising already-established SLPs in a teletherapy position:
Send an introductory email explaining who you are and your hopes for this period of supervision. It can be beneficial to include suggestions for getting started- such as things you wish someone would have said or provided for you (e.g., your favorite therapy material websites, a sample activity for the first session with a client, your contact information for urgent situations, and words of encouragement).
Schedule a Zoom meeting where you can actually “meet” the supervisee as soon as possible. Send a meeting link via Google Calendar to make it easy. I suggest using Calendly to schedule so you aren’t emailing back and forth trying to find a time that works for both of you. In this meeting, get acquainted and set a tone where you can both be comfortable. Remember that not everyone likes being supervised, no matter how experienced and confident they are in their abilities.
Gauge the level of support each therapist will require. This relates to what I noted above because you may need to schedule several training sessions or as few as one, depending on their confidence level with technology. First, have them share their screen and demonstrate their understanding of Zoom, Google Meets, or whatever platform you’ll be using.
Check-in with your supervisees to see what areas they feel need additional training or clarification. Schedule what you can before they feel thrown into the fire (so to speak) so they feel comfortable when they log into their first virtual therapy session.
Be sure to frequently read your email, especially when therapy is scheduled to start. It is not unheard of to receive a frantic message (“urgent” in the therapist’s mind) at any random hour. Put yourself in their shoes and have the words to help them problem-solve and put them at ease. You don’t have to give them your personal cell phone number—this may make them feel they can contact you at any time (and you are allowed time off).
Plan how often you will be observing the therapist. Explain that you will sign in and will turn your microphone and camera off during the session (so as not to distract the client). You can introduce yourself to the client before turning your settings off if you think it is appropriate.
Depending on how often you will be observing, plan to meet with the therapist shortly after the session for about 15 minutes to review your observations (stating their strengths and asking them where they think they could use your support). If this is an established therapist, you will likely only need to give advice when they ask for it (that is the hope). Your role is to make them feel supported and guide them in unfamiliar areas.
If you have more than one therapist you supervise, they may feel that monthly virtual meet-ups with all the therapists would be beneficial. This could be to ask questions, get additional feedback, bounce ideas off of each other, and share amazing virtual materials they’ve used. If scheduling is too complicated with everyone’s hectic schedules, consider creating a group chat so they have the comfort of knowing other therapists are there to rely on.
Keep everything in writing (take notes during every one-on-one meeting), and if problems arise, schedule a meeting to set up an action plan ASAP. Schedule more frequent observations and check-ins until you are both comfortable with the situation. If things get out of hand and you don’t feel equipped to handle it, 100% reach out for support from a colleague.
Keep in mind that supervising serves the same function whether it is in person or virtual, but in teletherapy, the form may be confusing when you’ve never done it. In some ways, it feels more structured, and it is easier to document the experience- which means you will feel organized throughout this experience. Learn as you go, do as you wish someone would have done for you, and enjoy the ride!
Remember to check your state regulations and ASHA regarding remote supervision for CFs, SLPAs, and graduate student interns. Some states and ASHA have limitations on the time spent in remote supervision.
