Social workers, psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals provide vital care to help clients and patients improve their lives. But where do these professionals turn when they want to improve their skills?

Continuing education fulfills this need, and mental health and addiction professionals in eastern North Carolina have a major resource in Eastern Area Health Education Center. Eastern AHEC is a nonprofit that provides educational programs on a variety of health care topics, including clinical supervision, an emerging issue in the field of mental health.

Many mental health professionals become supervisors over the course of their careers, according to Karen Koch, MSW, LCSW, director of mental health education at Eastern AHEC, but it can be difficult to find appropriate training. Most undergraduate degree programs and continuing education focus on treating clients, not supervising other professionals in a clinical setting.

“It’s a growing issue in the field of mental health education, across the country, and here in eastern North Carolina,” Koch said. “That’s why we’re developing new training with local and state experts to help mental health professionals right here in our region.”

Eastern AHEC is offering several new clinical supervision programs in fall 2018. These programs will help mental health professionals address topics in the workplace like supervisor competency, evaluations, ethical considerations, termination, use of new technology, peer supervision, and more. Eastern AHEC serves approximately 3,000 social workers; 2,000 counselors; 600 psychologists; and other mental health professionals across eastern North Carolina.

“When mental health professionals are comfortable supervising others, that helps everyone perform better,” Koch said. “And that in turn leads to better services for clients and improved quality of life for people in eastern North Carolina.”

Oct. 12 – Clinical Supervision: A Relational Approach

Nov. 15 – Clinical Supervision for Intermediate and Advanced Supervisors: An Exploration of Supervisors and Supervisee Competence

Dec. 7 – Emerging Trends in Clinical Supervision

The clinical supervision online series is designed to help mental health professionals enhance their skills as clinical supervisors.

• aheconnect.com/newahec/cdetail.asp?courseid=supervision1
• aheconnect.com/newahec/cdetail.asp?courseid=supervision2
• aheconnect.com/newahec/cdetail.asp?courseid=supervision3

For more information, visit easternahec.net.