Consultation

In this final week of preparation for the in-residence component of this course, you consider how consultation and supervision are similar and different.

As discussed in previous weeks, a supervisor is ultimately responsible for the quality of care; therefore, the supervisor must have relevant data to make informed decisions. Many supervisors watch videotapes of a supervisee’s therapy sessions and give feedback about the supervisee’s techniques, as well as recommendations for treatment planning. Clients are aware that the supervisor is ultimately in charge and directing the provided care.

In contrast, consultation involves a psychologist who is responsible for providing treatment and who seeks feedback from a colleague. The consultant is aware of information provided only by the treating clinician in a consultation. This lack of access to information may result in less accurate feedback but can provide the consultant some flexibility and creativity that might otherwise be missing if the consultant was responsible for the treatment. The consultant understands that he or she does not have all the facts and therefore must rely on the treating clinician’s good-faith judgment to incorporate suggestions into the treatment plan. One of the “purest” forms of consulting is the case method of instruction, whereby a workshop faculty member is asked about a case and provides feedback only within the context of that workshop. In such a situation, the instructor is providing instruction, and this activity is not synonymous with treatment.

For this Discussion, review the Learning Resources from Weeks 1 through 9. Reflect on the challenges you described in last week’s Discussion and consider strategies you may employ to address these challenges. Then, think about a topic, skill, or concept related to supervision and/or consultation that you are most looking forward to reviewing during the in-residence component of the course and explain why.

By Day 4

Post a description of the challenges you identified in last week’s Discussion. Then, explain strategies you might use to address these challenges. Finally, explain which topic, skill, or concept from this week’s readings and any other issues or topics that you are most looking forward to reviewing in-residence and explain why.

Be sure to support your post with specific references to the Learning Resources.