Creating the Space for Effective Clinical Supervision: Safe Space AND Brave Space

Creating the Space for Effective Clinical Supervision: Safe Space AND Brave Space

Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET

Presenter: Gisele Ferretto, MSW, LCSW-C

CEUs: 3 Category I in Supervision

Course Description

Effective clinical supervision is essential to professional growth, ethical practice, and quality client care. Supervisors play a critical role in creating environments where supervisees feel supported, challenged, and empowered to develop their clinical skills while navigating the complexities of behavioral health practice.

This engaging and interactive workshop is designed for behavioral health supervisors who are committed to fostering meaningful and ethically sound clinical supervision. Participants will explore the foundational purpose of supervision, review supervisory standards and responsibilities, and examine the complex issues that commonly arise within behavioral health settings.

A central focus of the training is the development of both Safe Space and Brave Space within the supervisory relationship. Participants will learn how to create environments where supervisees feel psychologically supported while also engaging in courageous conversations that promote accountability, self-reflection, professional growth, and cultural responsiveness.

Through discussion, reflection, and practical application, attendees will leave with strategies to cultivate supervisory relationships that balance safety with challenge, resulting in stronger practitioners and improved client outcomes.

Learning Objectives

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

1. Identify the core purpose and value of clinical supervision in social work practice.

2. Identify and apply supervision standards and responsibilities outlined by state Boards of Social Work, including COMAR 10.42.08.

3. Recognize and effectively navigate difficult topics that commonly arise in behavioral health service delivery.

4. Define the concepts of Safe Space and Brave Space and explain their relevance to clinical supervision.

5. Implement strategies that foster supervisory environments supporting both psychological safety and courageous dialogue.

Topics Covered

• Foundations and functions of clinical supervision

• Supervisor roles, responsibilities, and accountability

• COMAR 10.42.08 supervision requirements

• Ethical and effective supervision practices

• Addressing difficult conversations in supervision

• Psychological safety in the supervisory relationship

• The principles of Brave Space

• Cultural responsiveness and professional growth

• Managing conflict, feedback, and accountability

• Strengthening supervisee development and client outcomes

Practice Application

Participants will gain practical tools to:

• Build trust and psychological safety within supervision

• Facilitate challenging yet productive conversations

• Support supervisee self-awareness and professional development

• Navigate ethical and practice-related concerns effectively

• Create supervision environments that encourage growth, accountability, and reflective practice

Register here.