The role of clinical supervision in implementing evidence-based practice for managing comorbidity

ABSTRACT

Although effective evidence-based treatments exist for comorbid mental health and substance use disorders, they are not widely implemented. This paper reports a case study of the clinical supervision component of a multimodal training program provided to 20 counselors working in addictions which aimed to increase implementation of evidence-based practise when managing comorbidity. Implementation barriers and facilitators observed during the supervision process will be discussed. The clinical supervision was provided by telephone with significant improvements in counselor self-efficacy and fidelity observed following supervision. These findings suggest that clinical supervision can assist in facilitating implementing of evidence-based interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Clinical supervision
• comorbidity
• addiction treatment services

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vicki Giannopoulos

Vicki Giannopoulos, MPsychol PhD, is a Senior Clinical Psychologist at Sydney Local Health District working in addictions. Her research is in the area of translational research on evidence based practise, suicide and comorbidity.

Kirsten C. Morley

Kirsten C. Morley, has a BPsych (Hons 1 Medal), MPH, PhD, is a NSW Health Translational Research Fellow at Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, and is based at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH). She has made a major contribution to Australia’s health and medical research effort in the field of alcohol and substance use.

Gabriela M. Uribe

Gabriela M. Uribe holds a Bachelor in Psychology, and a Master of Social Psychology. In addition, Gabriela holds a PhD in Medicine with expertise in evaluating training interventions aimed to improve the management of comorbid mental illness and substance use. Gabriela has also evaluated interventions aimed to increase mental health literacy at community-based levels.

Eva Louie

Eva Louie (MClinPsych) is a PhD candidate from the University of Sydney researching the translation of evidence-based interventions for comorbid substance use and mental illness into practice.

Katie Wood

Katie Wood holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a Master of Clinical Psychology. Katie has work experience in both research and clinical capacity in drug and alcohol settings, with an interest in improving treatment for comorbidity in this population.

Maree Teesson

Maree Teesson AC is Professor and Director of The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, and NHMRC Principal Research Fellow at The University of Sydney. Maree is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences.

Andrew Baillie

Andrew Baillie, MPsychol PhD MAPS FCCLP, is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Allied Health in the Sydney School of Health Sciences at The University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District. His research is in the treatment of comorbid substance use and mental disorders, applied psychometrics, and implementation science.

Paul S. Haber

Paul S. Haber, MD FRACP FAChAM, is a physician specializing in addiction medicine and gastroenterology/hepatology. He is Clinical Director for Drug Health Services for the Sydney Local Health District and a senior staff specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.