This 2-hour targeted learning experience offers a unique opportunity to examine the interpersonal dynamics that shape effective clinical supervision. Participants will explore the critical—yet often overlooked—role of attachment within the supervisory relationship. By bridging theory with practice, this session equips clinical supervisors with practical strategies and deeper insight into fostering secure, productive, and growth-enhancing supervisory relationships. This training is for both novice and experienced clinical supervisors, their supervisees, and professionals across helping professions.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to
- Understand attachment theory’s impact on supervisory interactions
- Identify personal and professional attachment patterns
- Develop strategies for creating secure, supportive supervision environments
Syllabus:
Introduction: Understanding attachment and clinical supervisory relationships means examining how early patterns of seeking support and regulating distress shaped the way supervisees experience guidance, feedback, and evaluation. Attachment theory, rooted in the work of Bowlby and later expanded By Ainsworth and others, suggest that people carry expectations about safety and supportive response into new relationships, which influences their willingness to take risks, disclose uncertainties, and integrate critique. In supervision, a secure base provided by a responsive and attuned supervisor can encourage supervisees to explore different client, reflect openly on their reactions, and develop new skills. Recognizing these dynamics helps supervisors cultivate a supportive climate, tailor feedback, and model professional humility and resilience.
Objective #1: Understand attachment theory’s impact on supervisory interactions
- Overview of attachment theory
- Supervision as an attachment relationship
- Types of attachment behaviors
Objective #2: Identify personal and professional attachment patterns
- Impact of attachment styles (supervisor and supervisee)
- Attachment styles influence clinical outcomes and professional development
- Parallel process
Objective #3: Develop strategies for creating secure, supportive supervision environments
- Secure supervisory base
- Practical strategies
Summary/Q&A
Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Ericka Cables, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS
Recording Date: April 1, 2026
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2025 - 08/6/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 2hrs Clinical continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device.
Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com