What is it about?
This article explains how good supervision helps new clinicians learn about the laws and ethics they need to follow at work. The author suggests that when supervisors use thoughtful, inclusive, and culturally aware approaches, they help early career professionals grow, act ethically, and serve their clients better. The article uses a real-world example (a case study) of a supervisee from a minority background to show how a flexible problem-solving method-called Haley’s Strategic Model-can help tackle tough issues like discrimination and bias in the workplace. This model encourages creative thinking and adapting to each situation, which helps both the supervisee and their clients. The author also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, emphasizing that supervisors need to be open-minded and responsive to different cultures and backgrounds. In the end, the article argues that these strategies help prepare new clinicians to face today’s complex challenges, making them better professionals and improving outcomes for everyone they serve.
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Why is it important?
This specific study is valuable because it shows how using Haley’s Strategic Model within clinical supervision can help new clinicians-especially those from marginalized backgrounds—navigate complex legal, ethical, and cultural challenges in real-world practice. The study demonstrates that this model’s adaptability and problem-solving approach support professional growth, ethical standards, and better client outcomes. By focusing on mentorship, inclusivity, and systemic thinking, it offers practical strategies for supervisors to address issues like discrimination and bias, making clinical training more effective and relevant for today’s diverse workforce.
Perspectives
This study is important to the author because it reflects the lessons learned from a broad and deep mentoring journey. The author began supervising engineers in 2002 and moved into adult education in 2012, gaining firsthand experience in supporting professional growth across different fields. Since 2020, the author has served as a Native Forward mentor and as a minority fellowship mentor with NBCC, NAADAC, and FAHS. Through these mentoring roles, the author saw the unique and lasting impact that supportive, culturally responsive supervision can have-especially for professionals from underrepresented backgrounds. These experiences made it clear that mentorship is not just about teaching skills; it is about helping people navigate complex legal, ethical, and social challenges, build confidence, and develop a strong professional identity. This perspective inspired the author to explore and share practical, inclusive supervision strategies—like Haley’s Strategic Model—that help new clinicians succeed. The study represents the author’s commitment to making supervision more adaptive, ethical, and meaningful for today’s diverse workforce, drawing directly from their own hands-on experience mentoring and supporting minority professionals.
Assoc. Prof. Ezra N. S. Lockhart
National University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Mentorship and Clinical Supervision Through Haley's Strategic Model: A Composite Case Study in Legal Literacy, Journal of Systemic Therapies, February 2025, Guilford Publications,
DOI: 10.1521/jsyt.2024.43.3.01.
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