Transforming Supervision for the Behavioral Health Workforce 2026
5-month Hybrid Format Continuing Education Certificate Course
Effective supervision is essential for promoting better outcomes for those in our care and for maintaining healthy teams and relationships at work, but often people are promoted without receiving specific training in supervision models and skills either in their academic training or on the job.
This certificate course will support supervisors across the behavioral health field, especially those who are new to supervision or looking to radically advance their supervisory skill set, in honing and developing the skills needed to be effective supervisors. Supervisors of behavioral health services, clinical supervisors, peer support and recovery coach supervisors, new supervisors, existing supervisors, and behavioral health supervisors working in various settings–behavioral health, health care, recovery services, and other settings–are welcome in this course.
Through a combination of interactive workshops, didactic lectures, and self-paced work, participants will gain valuable skills to balance the administrative and supportive or clinical aspects of supervision. They will leave the program having developed a personalized supervision and development plan. This course will address all aspects of supervision and management to provide guidance and skills for all aspects of supervision and management. Participants will also have the opportunity to receive ongoing online mentorship through a co-learning cohort throughout and following the program.
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Course Information
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Course Format & Dates
Session dates:
- Virtual dates: January 14 + 28, February 11 + 25, March 11 + 25, April 8 + 22, May 6 (alternate Wednesdays 1:00-5:00pm)
- In-person date: Wednesday, May 20, 9:30am-2:30pm | Thomas College, Waterville, ME
Objectives
- Develop the skills, practice, and knowledge of supervisors
- Create networks of support for supervisors
- Prepare first-time and early-career supervisors for supervisory roles
- Develop supervisors’ ability to create dynamic, motivating team environments
Agenda Highlights
Session 1 | January 14 | Welcome & Setting the Stage
- Team and group norms
- Team culture
- Leading in the middle
- Introduce professional development plan topics
Session 2 | January 28 | Fundamentals: Supervision as a Skill
- Self-assessment and development plan
- Functions of a supervisor
- Qualities of a “good” supervisor
- SMART goals
Session 3 | February 11 | Leadership
- Leadership vs. management
- Creating a vision for your team
- SWOT analysis
Session 4 | February 25 | Change Management
- Effective communication throughout the change process
- Responding to conflict
- Giving and receiving feedback
Session 5 | March 11 | Legal Issues & Ethics
- Working with HR and legal representatives
- Assistance programs, resources, benefits
- Defining ethics & scope of practice
- Roles, responsibilities, boundaries
Session 6 | March 25 | Self-Care & Setting Up Supervision
- Self-care & finding your balance
- Self-care vs community care
- Hiring & onboarding
- Setting up supervisory relationships – contracts, notes, templates, individual development
Session 7 | April 8 | Finance
- Budget basics & budget management
- Practice building & tough choices
- Financial learning plan
Session 8 | April 22 | Individual Development & Performance Management
- Radical candor & managing our “stuff”
- Resetting supervisory relationships
- Corrective action – conversations
Session 9 | May 6 | Team Culture
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion – roles, pathways, and identities
- Cultivating growth, emotional safety, intellectual curiosity
- Setting team values and agreements
- Power dynamics
- Conflict in the workplace
Session 10 | IN PERSON May 20 | Wrap-Up, Network, & Next Steps
- What have I learned?
- What is my self-development plan?
- How do I prepare myself for the next steps in my professional development?
Course Instructors
Christine McNulty
Christine McNulty, LCSW, LADC, CCS, has spent her career working with children, adolescents, and adults that have been impacted by substance use and mental health challenges. Christine began her career in the early nineties working in an inpatient mental health hospital with children and adolescents. After completing her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Christine moved to San Jose, CA, where she led a drop-in program for homeless and street-dependent youth and young adults. After working in California for 6 years, Christine returned home to Maine, where she completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work.
Over the last 25 years, Christine has had the opportunity to work with many diverse populations in a number of diverse settings. She has had the opportunity to work in inpatient hospital treatment programs; and, has led teams in residential treatment programs; social service drop-in programs for homeless populations; group homes; and, correctional facilities. Currently, Christine is working as a behavioral health consultant for social service programs and schools.
Randy Morrison
Randy Morrison (he/him) is a person who personally understands the challenges of navigating substance use and mental health concerns. He is a Certified Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Specialist, IPS Trainer, and CCAR Recovery Coach trainer; and has a master’s in public health and a master’s in policy, planning and management. Randy spent over seven years leading the growth and implementation of peer support programs across Maine’s largest healthcare system before becoming a full-time trainer and consultant. During his time as a senior leader, he grew a peer support team of 3 peer supporters to over 65, the largest in Maine. The programs spanned substance use peer support, mental health peer support, youth peer support, and family/parent peer support. Those positions worked in a variety of settings as well, including emergency departments, primary care, behavioral health clinics, youth early intervention programs, case management programs, and four peer support centers. Randy was a co-author on a manual for integrating peer support into multidisciplinary and clinical settings. Randy is passionate about peer support fidelity and creating systems that center the people utilizing them.
Continuing Education
48 hours of continuing education – includes 40 live hours of instruction (inclusive of 5 hours of ethics) and 8 hours of static instruction
- Fulfills the training requirement for the Certified Clinical Supervisor training (however, it is recommended that participants have completed the 24-hour CCS training as this certificate program will be more in-depth).
- Contact hours:
- 48 contact hours for peer support professionals, social workers, licensed clinical professional counselors, and other behavioral health professionals
- 48 Category I contact hours for psychologists are provided. CCSME is a pre-approved sponsor and provider of Professional Education Activities for Psychologists.
- 48 contact hours for CHES. CCSME is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
- 48 contact hours pending for alcohol and drug counselors from the Maine Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors
Tuition
Limited need-based scholarships are available – contact Casey at ccoddaire@ccsme.org for more info.
Funding Disclosures
Sponsors
This course is developed through the Partnership for ME, coordinated by CCSME, and funded by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Behavioral Health.
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