10 Hours / 10 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Essential Knowledge and Skills for Effective Supervision is presented by Donna Sheperis, PhD.

Clinical supervision of counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and social workers requires more than experience in the field. Approved supervisors in the state of California need to have training in supervision theory, modalities, laws, ethics, and standards of practice. This program provides attendees with the essential tools necessary to provide quality, ethical supervision to trainees in their agencies. Through the use of the didactic and experiential practice, this program helps participants expand their knowledge of basic supervision practice and develop their own supervisory style to best protect clients while developing clinicians under their supervision. 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the roles of functions of clinical supervisors
  • 2 Describe major models of supervision influencing clinical practice
  • 3 Describe primary techniques of clinical supervision
  • 4 Describe goals of supervision tailored to specific supervisee needs
  • 5 Describe ethical and relational challenges in supervision

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health and allied professionals who supervise or plan to supervise others, including those specializing in psychology, social work, counseling, and related fields. It is intended for individuals responsible for overseeing trainees, interns, or junior clinicians, whether they are new to supervision or experienced clinicians seeking to enhance their supervisory skills.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Social Worker
    • Counselor
    • Allied Professional in related fields

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for entry-level professionals.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to clinical supervision or have limited experience, seeking to understand the roles and functions of supervisors, major models of supervision, primary supervision techniques, and relevant laws, ethics, and standards of practice in California.

  • Practice Setting

    Participants in this training typically work in environments where clinical supervision is a core responsibility. These settings include community mental health agencies, private practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and nonprofit organizations. Supervisors in these roles are responsible for guiding and overseeing the professional development of trainees, interns, or junior clinicians, ensuring adherence to ethical standards, legal requirements, and best practices in mental health care. The work environment is often collaborative and multidisciplinary, requiring strong communication and leadership skills to support both client care and clinician growth.

    • Community mental health centers
    • Private therapy practices
    • Hospital behavioral health units
    • Outpatient counseling clinics
    • School-based mental health programs
    • Nonprofit organizations providing mental health services
    • University or college counseling centers
    • Residential treatment facilities

Presented By

Donna Sheperis, PhD Full Professor at Palo Alto University and Director of the eClinic

Donna Sheperis, PhD. joined PAU in 2016 and currently serves as a Full Professor, Associate Chair, Chair of the PAU Faculty Senate, Co-Chair of the PAU Institutional Review Board, and Director of the PAU eClinic. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi and her Masters in Counseling from Delta State University. Donna has taught land-based and online programs since 2000. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi and Texas; a Board Certified Counselor; a Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor; an Approved Clinical Supervisor; and a Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider with 30 years of experience in clinical mental health counseling settings. Dr. Donna Sheperis is active in the counseling profession. She is past president of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling and on the Ethics Appeals Committee for the American Counseling Association. She serves on the ACA Ethical Appeals Committee. Previously, Donna served as chair of the ACA Ethics Committee. She also serves on the Ethics and Bylaws committees for the Association for Humanistic Counseling and the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. She is active in scholarship and research as well with multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, she has authored multiple book chapters and textbooks including Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Fundamentals of Applied Practice for Pearson Publishing; Ethical Decision Making for the 21st Century Counselor for SAGE Publishing; and Foundations of Substance Use and Addiction Counseling: Principles and Applied Practice for Cognella Publishing (in press).

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Donna Sheperis, PhD

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.