Clinical Supervision Postpandemic: Providing a Continuity of Care and Supervision Using Zoom in the University Clinic Setting

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the shift to telepractice by university clinics. Supervision then occurred through Zoom or other videoconferencing platforms. Although clinics have returned to in-person services, the use of telepractice still continues as a preferred form of service delivery for many clients. However, providing both telepractice and in-person supervision in one university clinic can present many challenges. This article describes how one pro bono university clinic is resolving supervisor observation issues and space limitations by implementing a cohesive, low-cost Zoom observation system that is used with both in-person and telepractice clients. The history of the previous observation system is provided along with the factors that necessitated the shift to the videoconferencing platform. The authors describe the configuration of the clinic rooms, the equipment needed to implement a similar observation system, and recommendations for getting started. This article also discusses the benefits and challenges of using the Zoom observation system for supervision with graduate student clinicians and their clients. The information is relevant to programs seeking to implement an effective low-cost observation system for training graduate students in a university clinic.