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Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision
An experiential, relational approach to learning and professional development.
Becoming a Clinical Supervisor
Becoming a clinical supervisor involves more than learning supervision models and techniques. It means developing a different perspective on therapeutic practice, exploring the responsibilities that come with supporting other practitioners, and learning to navigate the complexities of supervisory relationships.
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Our Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision is designed for experienced practitioners who want to engage with this work in depth.
Through experiential learning, critical reflection and practical supervisory experience, you'll explore the relationship between theory and practice, develop your professional judgement and begin to establish a supervisory approach that is informed, ethical and authentically your own.
The course is facilitated by Sam Crapnell, who brings her experience as a counsellor, clinical supervisor and educator, alongside a genuine enthusiasm for supporting practitioners in their professional development.
Explore this Diploma
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Why train with us?
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What you'll explore
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The learning experience
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Meet your facilitator
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​​​​​​2. Qualification and Assessment
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Course structure
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Supervision practice
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Assessment and professional development
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Qualification and recognition
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Entry requirements
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Dates and fees
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Application process
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Frequently Asked Questions
Discover the qualification
Why Train With Us?
We believe that learning to become a clinical supervisor deserves time, depth and thoughtful exploration. It's a significant professional responsibility, and one that calls for more than an understanding of supervision models.
Our Advanced Diploma is designed to be thorough, challenging and engaging. We bring theory into practice through experiential activities, discussion, reflection and opportunities to explore the complexities of real supervisory work. You'll be encouraged to question, think critically and develop your own approach, rather than simply follow a prescribed way of supervising.
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Learning takes place in a small, supportive group where different experiences, perspectives and ways of thinking are welcomed. We combine high expectations with individual attention, meaningful feedback and an approach to assessment that recognises different ways of demonstrating professional competence.
Above all, we care deeply about the quality of the learning experience. We want you to enjoy the process, feel appropriately challenged and leave with more than a qualification: a well-developed understanding of yourself as a supervisor and the responsibilities that come with that role.
Some of the texts that inform our teaching:
What You'll Explore
Throughout the Advanced Diploma, you'll explore the theories, relationships and professional responsibilities that underpin effective clinical supervision.
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Working with established frameworks, including the Seven-Eyed Model and the Cyclical Model, you'll develop ways of understanding what happens within supervision and how different perspectives can inform your responses.
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Our learning explores individual and group supervision, working with trainee and experienced practitioners, unconscious and relational processes, ethical decision-making, power and difference, and the complexities of working within organisational settings.
You'll also consider how supervision changes across different contexts, including online practice and work with children and young people.
Rather than studying these areas in isolation, you'll be encouraged to make connections between them, drawing on your existing clinical experience, emerging supervisory practice and the perspectives of others.
The emphasis throughout is on developing your capacity to notice, question, evaluate and make informed supervisory decisions.
The Learning Experience
Learning to become a clinical supervisor involves more than understanding theory. It's a process of questioning, experimenting, reflecting and gradually discovering how you want to work with others.
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Our online programme has been designed around shorter, regular learning sessions. Meeting for 2.5 hours each Thursday creates space for meaningful exploration and practice, without the demands of attending a full training day.
This approach offers a different rhythm to learning. There is time between sessions to reflect on new ideas, notice their relevance to your clinical work and return with questions or experiences to explore together. It also provides a different type of flexibility for practitioners balancing training with work, family life and their own wellbeing.
"I completed my time on the Advanced Diploma in Supervision. I left after a year of experiential learning with a strong sense of feeling more grounded in my work, not only as a supervisor but also as a therapist. I fully recommend this course to anyone considering becoming a supervisor." H
Within each session, you'll engage in facilitated discussions, practical supervision exercises, creative activities and reflective conversations. Breakout rooms provide opportunities to work in pairs and small groups, practise supervisory skills, experiment with different approaches and receive feedback.
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​The learning group itself becomes part of the experience. We'll explore what emerges in our conversations, how we respond to different perspectives and what we can learn from moments of uncertainty, challenge and connection, including those particular to working online.
We encourage curiosity, humour and thoughtful questioning. You won't be expected to arrive with all the answers, but you will be invited to consider the choices you make, the assumptions you bring and the impact of your developing supervisory approach.
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Shorter sessions don't mean less substantial learning. The same commitment to experiential teaching, critical reflection and professional competence underpins the programme, delivered at a pace that allows learning to develop over time.
Meet Your Facilitator - Sam Crapnell
Click image to read more abut Sam's supervision practice
"I can highly recommend Samantha, her professionalism and warmth shines through in everything she does." L
I'm a therapeutic counsellor, clinical supervisor and educator, and I'll be personally facilitating your learning throughout this Advanced Diploma.
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Of all the training I deliver, teaching clinical supervision is something I particularly love. There's something fascinating about exploring what happens when we move from focusing on our own therapeutic work to supporting someone else to understand and develop theirs.
I enjoy the questions, the different perspectives, the moments when something suddenly makes sense, and even those moments when we realise there isn't a straightforward answer.
My teaching is experiential, relational and grounded in real practice. I'll encourage you to question, explore, challenge assumptions and develop your own supervisory approach, rather than simply adopt mine.
I take the responsibility of preparing supervisors seriously, so you can expect thorough teaching, thoughtful feedback and plenty of opportunities to stretch your thinking. But you can also expect curiosity, creativity, humour and genuine enjoyment of the learning process.
I want you to understand what you're committing to, and I want you to enjoy discovering the supervisor you're becoming.
Qualification and Assessment
About the Qualification
​The Online Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision is a practitioner-focused qualification designed to develop the knowledge, skills and reflective capacity needed for clinical supervision.
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The programme combines 100 hours of facilitated teaching with 40 hours of clinical supervision practice, independent study and competence-based assessment.
It follows the same educational approach and professional expectations as our established Advanced Diploma, adapted for shorter, regular online teaching sessions.
Is the online qualification professionally recognised? Our established Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision holds NCPS Advanced Specialist Training recognition. We have been in discussion with NCPS about extending recognition to our online programme. As the online course has developed its own teaching structure and assessment arrangements, it will require a separate recognition process. We intend to pursue this recognition, but it has not yet been granted and cannot be guaranteed.
Award-Winning Training Provider
Training for Counsellors was named Counselling Training Provider of the Year – North England 2025/2026 at the Prestige Awards.
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We're proud of this recognition, which reflects our commitment to thoughtful, experiential counselling and supervision education.
Whether learning online or in person, our approach remains grounded in relational practice, critical reflection and supporting practitioners to develop their own professional identity.
Course Structure
The Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision combines facilitated teaching, practical supervisory experience, independent study and reflective assessment.
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The qualification includes:​
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100 hours of facilitated teaching, combining theory, practical activities, discussion and reflection.
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40 hours of clinical supervision practice, providing opportunities to develop your supervisory approach through working with supervisees.
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Independent study and reflection, supporting your engagement with supervision literature, professional frameworks and your developing practice.
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Assessment and professional development, bringing together evidence of your learning, critical reflection and demonstrated supervisory competence.
Our weekly teaching sessions provide continuity throughout the programme, with opportunities to explore new learning, put ideas into practice and return to the group with emerging questions and reflections.
Specialist guest contributions and continuing professional development opportunities may also form part of the learning programme, bringing additional perspectives and expertise to your development as a clinical supervisor.
The programme is designed to allow learning and supervisory experience to develop alongside one another, rather than concentrating teaching into occasional intensive days.
Supervision Practice
An important part of developing as a clinical supervisor is having opportunities to put your learning into practice, reflect on your experiences and begin to recognise your own developing supervisory approach.
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Throughout the Advanced Diploma, you'll undertake 40 hours of clinical supervision practice, working with supervisees and bringing your experiences back into the learning environment.
This provides opportunities to explore the realities of supervisory relationships, including contracting, professional responsibility, ethical decision-making, relational processes and the challenges that emerge in practice.
As your experience develops, you'll be encouraged to reflect critically on your supervisory interventions, consider different perspectives and recognise how your understanding of supervision is evolving.
Your practice also contributes to your assessment, allowing you to demonstrate how you're integrating theory, professional knowledge and supervisory skills in your work.
Assessment and Professional Development
Assessment is an integral part of your learning throughout the Advanced Diploma.
Rather than simply measuring what you know at the end of the course, our approach encourages you to recognise, explore and demonstrate your developing competence as a clinical supervisor.
You'll draw on your supervisory practice, engagement with theory, critical reflection and professional experiences to build evidence of your learning and development. We recognise that practitioners think, communicate and demonstrate their understanding in different ways. Our assessment approach therefore allows for flexibility in how evidence is presented, while maintaining consistent expectations of professional knowledge, ethical practice and supervisory competence. Feedback is an important part of this process. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your strengths, explore areas for further development and make connections between your learning and your supervisory practice.
Our aim is not simply to assess whether you can supervise, but to support you in understanding how and why you make the supervisory decisions you do.
Evidencing Your Learning and Competence
Assignments
Assignment 1 – Supervision Models: Understanding and Integration Explore your understanding of clinical supervision models, including how you might integrate different approaches into your developing supervisory practice. 1500 words written submission OR 15 minute verbal submission
Assignment 2 – Observed Supervisory Practice Participate in observed supervision sessions through dyads and triads. You'll receive feedback on your practice, identifying strengths and areas for further development. 2000-word written submission OR 20-minute verbal submission
Assignment 3 – Early Transcript Analysis Analyse a transcript from your early supervisory practice, drawing on the observations and feedback from Assignment 2 to explore your developing skills, decision-making and professional awareness. 2000-words written submission OR 20-minute verbal submission
Assignment 4 – Research Project Presentation Undertake a research project exploring an aspect of clinical supervision that particularly interests you. This is an opportunity to investigate a topic relevant to your own professional curiosity and connect your findings with supervisory practice. 15-minute presentation plus Q&A
Assignment 5 – Final Transcript Analysis Complete a detailed, line-by-line analysis of a later supervisory session, demonstrating your developing competence, critical reflection, theoretical integration and understanding of the supervisory relationship. Analytical commentary accounts for 2000-word written submission or 20 minutes verbal submission, excluding the transcript
Professional Practice and Portfolio
Clinical Supervision Practice – 40 Hours Alongside your assignments, you'll complete a minimum of 40 hours of clinical supervision practice.
Supervision of Supervision (SV4SV) Report Throughout your training, you'll be required to undertake supervision of your developing supervisory practice with an appropriately qualified supervisor. This provides an important opportunity to reflect on your supervisory relationships, ethical decision-making, professional responsibilities and developing competence. A report from your supervisor of supervision will form part of your assessment portfolio, contributing evidence of your reflective engagement, professional development and accountability as a developing clinical supervisor.
Final Viva (Professional Discussion) Bring together your learning and development through a professional discussion informed by the BACP Supervision Competences and Roth & Pilling supervision framework. You'll explore your supervisory practice, professional judgement and decision-making, demonstrating how you understand and apply the competences in your work. The Viva provides an opportunity to demonstrate accountability to the BACP and Roth & Pilling competency frameworks.
Recognised for the Quality of Our Assessment and Feedback
“The level of feedback is greater than I would generally see in higher education.”
​Imelda Hatton,
External Verifier, 2023
“Feedback on the assignments has been thorough and focused on core competencies and learning objective.”
Imelda Hatton,
External Verifier, 2026
Joining the course
Entry Requirements
Our Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision is designed for qualified counsellors, psychotherapists and other appropriately experienced therapeutic practitioners who are ready to develop their practice into clinical supervision.
Applicants should have an established foundation of therapeutic knowledge and clinical experience, alongside the capacity to think critically about therapeutic processes, recognise complexity and nuance, and reflect on their own professional practice. You do not need to hold professional accreditation to apply.
As part of the application process, we'll explore your professional background, experience and readiness to undertake supervision training, as well as the commitments involved in completing the qualification.
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We recognise that practitioners arrive with different professional pathways and experiences, and welcome conversations about individual circumstances and suitability for the programme.
Dates and Fees
Course dates:
Teaching takes place on Thursday evenings, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, with regular 2.5-hour sessions spread across the programme.
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The timetable includes planned breaks around school holidays, allowing time to consolidate learning, develop your supervisory practice and balance training with other commitments.
Teaching dates
Dates to be confirmed.
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The programme provides a minimum of 100 facilitated teaching hours, alongside the requirement to complete 40 hours of clinical supervision practice.
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Course Fees
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1 x £192.28 and 12 x £192.31
The total fee for the Online Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision is £2,500, payable in 13 monthly instalments of approximately £192.31, with no deposit required.
Your first payment is due on the Monday before the prgramme begins. Subsequent payments are invoiced automatically each month.
Application Process
We begin with a conversation.
If you're considering joining the Advanced Diploma, we'll arrange an initial discussion to explore your professional experience, your interest in becoming a clinical supervisor and what you're hoping to gain from the training.
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It's also an opportunity for you to ask questions, learn more about our approach and consider whether the programme is right for you.
We'll then discuss the qualification requirements, expectations and financial commitments in more detail before making a decision about offering a place.
Our aim is for you to make an informed decision about joining us, just as we consider your readiness to undertake the qualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ: How do I find supervisees for my 40 hours of supervision practice?
You won't need to find all 40 hours of supervision practice independently. Opportunities to practise supervision are built into the programme, including structured dyad and triad sessions and our Speed Supervision experience, where you'll work with four different supervisees in 30-minute sessions. Alongside these opportunities, we recommend finding three supervisees who can attend monthly supervision sessions with you. As our qualification is a dual award recognising supervision with counsellors and other helping professionals, we encourage you to gain experience with at least one qualified counsellor and, where possible, someone from another helping profession. Student counsellors are generally required to have an appropriately qualified clinical supervisor, so you wouldn't normally act as their primary supervisor while training. However, there may be opportunities to work with them as a second supervisor. We'll explore the practical and ethical considerations of establishing these supervisory relationships throughout your training.
FAQ: What if I'm not particularly academic?
You don't need to consider yourself an academic to become a thoughtful and competent clinical supervisor. The qualification involves engaging with theory, research and critical reflection, but we recognise that people learn and communicate their understanding in different ways. Our approach is experiential, with opportunities to explore ideas through discussion, practice, observation and reflection. Assessment focuses on demonstrating your developing supervisory competence. Where appropriate, you can present evidence through written, verbal or other agreed formats. The professional standards remain consistent, but the way you demonstrate your learning doesn't have to look identical to everyone else's.
FAQ: How do I know if I'm ready to train as a clinical supervisor?
It's a question worth asking, and one we're happy to explore with you. Readiness isn't simply about how many years you've been practising or whether you hold a particular professional accreditation. We're interested in your clinical experience, your ability to recognise complexity and nuance in therapeutic relationships, your capacity for critical reflection and your willingness to take responsibility for supporting another practitioner's work. You don't need to arrive already knowing how to supervise. That's what the training is for. Our initial conversation gives us an opportunity to explore your readiness together.
FAQ: Do I need supervision of my supervision practice?
Yes. Supervision of Supervision (SV4SV) is a requirement of the qualification. You'll work with an appropriately qualified supervisor to reflect on your developing supervisory practice, including your relationships with supervisees, ethical responsibilities, professional decisions and areas for further development. A report from your supervisor of supervision will contribute to your assessment portfolio, providing evidence of your engagement with reflective and accountable supervisory practice.
FAQ: What happens if I need more time to complete the qualification?
We recognise that practitioners are balancing training with professional and personal commitments, and that learning doesn't always progress at the same pace for everyone. If difficulties arise, we encourage you to discuss them with us early so we can explore what support or reasonable adjustments may be appropriate. Qualification remains dependent on meeting the required standards of competence, practice hours and assessment.