Code of Colorado Regulations
700 - Department of Regulatory Agencies
737 - Division of Professions and Occupations - State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners
4 CCR 737-1 - LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR EXAMINERS RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 4 CCR 737-1.7 - SUPERVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS AND SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS (C.R.S. sections 12-245-222(2), 12-245-224(1)(n))

1. Clinical supervision occurs when there is close, ongoing review and direction of a supervisee's clinical practice.

2. Consultation describes a voluntary relationship between professionals of relative equal expertise or status wherein the consultant offers her/his best advice or information on an individual case or problem for use by the consultee as s/he deems appropriate in her/his professional judgment.

3. Administrative supervisor is the person who bears responsibility for the non-clinical functioning of an employee, such as performance appraisals, personnel decisions, etc. The administrative supervisor may be held accountable for not reporting misconduct by a professional counselor when s/he knew or should have known of a violation of generally accepted standards of practice or any prohibited activity.

4. Modes of Supervision. Include but are not be limited to individual, group, telephone, electronic mail, audio-visual, process recording, direct observation, telesupervision telecommunication (teleconferencing, fax, videotapes), and hospital rounds. The appropriate modality of supervision shall be determined by the training, education, and experience of the supervisee, and the treatment setting (i.e. urban/rural, or the availability of resources, etc.); and at all times based on community standards and client needs. The level of supervision provided, including whether every case is directly supervised and whether the supervisor meets with the client, is determined by the education, training, and experience of the supervisee, the specific needs of the clients being served, and the professional judgment of the supervisor. Nothing in this rule should be assumed to abridge the rights of the client to a reasonable standard of care.

1. Monitoring the supervisee's activities to verify s/he is providing services that meet generally accepted standards of practice;

2. Verifying that it is the practice of any supervisee to provide the mandatory disclosure form as required pursuant to section 12-245-216, C.R.S.;

3. If appropriate, verifying that clients are informed as to any changes in the supervisory relationship;

4. Giving an adequate termination of supervision notice to the supervisee;

5. Keeping records that document supervision that meet the generally accepted standards of practice;

6. Assisting the supervisee in becoming aware of and adhering to all legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities;

7. Assuring that no inappropriate relationships exist between the supervisor and supervisee, and supervisor and client;

8. Assuring the supervisee meets any licensing, certification or registration requirements prior to engaging in any psychotherapy;

9. Assisting to assure that the supervisee is in compliance with the Mental Health Practice Act;

10. Verifying and assuring the supervisee is in compliance with any existing restricted licensure, certification or registration status or probation.

1. The supervisor shall have sufficient knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional standards relevant to the clients being served.

2. The supervisor shall have clinical experience and competence adequate to perform and direct the services provided by the supervisee.

3. Effective September 1, 2021, professional counselors engaged in the clinical supervision of mental health professionals must meet the following additional criteria:

4. Clinical supervision completed prior to September 1, 2021, must meet the requirements of this rule with the exception of section D(3) of this rule. Clinical supervision completed on or after September 1, 2021, must meet all requirements of this rule.

5. Professional counselor applicants engaged in post-master's or post-doctoral supervised practice as set forth in Rule 1.14 on or before September 25, 2020, may complete the supervised practice with the same clinical supervisor in place on or before July 14, 2020 September 25, 2020 as long as the clinical supervisor meets the requirements in sections D(1) and (2) of this rule.

6. Professional counselor applicants beginning post-master's or post-doctoral supervised practice as set forth in Rule 1.14 after September 25, 2020, must ensure the clinical supervisor meets or intends to meet all requirements of this rule by September 1, 2021, in order to receive credit for the supervised clinical practice.

7. Any professional counsel engaged in the clinical supervision of a mental health professional will be required to attest upon renewal, beginning with the August 2021 renewal, that the licensee meets the criteria set forth in this rule; and, agree to provide documentation supporting this attestation upon request of the Board.