How to Find CRPO Supervisors in Ontario

If you’re preparing to register with the CRPO, or are newly registered with qualifying status, chances are you’re searching for a CRPO supervisor to help you obtain the necessary clinical supervision hours required to gain full registration as a Registered Psychotherapist.

This article discusses the CRPO’s clinical supervision requirements, and how you can find CRPO supervisors in Ontario.

Clinical Supervision and CRPO Registration

While some regulatory bodies require prior approval from the college to become a clinical supervisor, the CRPO does not have an approved list of clinical supervisors. In addition, they do not require Registered Psychotherapists to register as a clinical supervisor with the college once they meet the clinical supervision requirements outlined by CRPO. As there the CRPO does not approve clinical supervisors, they prohibit Registered Psychotherapists from using credentials such as “CRPO-approved supervisor,” “CRPO clinical supervisor,” or “RP-S” (CRPO, n.d.1). 

CRPO Clinical Supervision Requirements

First, it’s important to determine your clinical supervision requirements. Once you’ve registered with the CRPO and gained Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) status, you’ll be required to receive 100 hours of clinical supervision, along with other criteria, to gain the Registered Psychotherapist designation. However, the CRPO recommends “a minimum of approximately one hour of clinical supervision per week” (CRPO, n.d.2), especially for new practitioners.

Your responsibility for receiving ongoing clinical supervision doesn’t end there. Once you’ve gained the Registered Psychotherapist designation, you’ll still be required to have at least 150 clinical supervision hours or more until you’ve completed the required direct client contact hours and met the requirements for “independent practice” by the CRPO (CRPO, n.d.2). Receiving regular clinical consultation after that is also recommended. 

CRPO Clinical Supervisor Requirements

Next, you’ll need to understand the requirements for a clinical supervisor to ensure that your clinical supervision hours count toward your CRPO registration requirements. According to the CRPO, your clinical supervision does not need to be a CRPO registrant, but must be “member in good standing with a regulatory body whose registrants may practise psychotherapy” (CRPO, n.d.2.). This includes registrants from the following colleges:

• College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
• Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
• College of Psychologists of Ontario
• College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• College of Nurses of Ontario
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

However, for your clinical supervision to be eligible, your clinical supervisor must meet the minimum requirements set out by the CRPO:

• A minimum of 5 years extensive clinical practice
• Completion of at least 1000 direct client hours and 150 hours of receiving clinical supervision
• At least 30 hours of directed learning in providing clinical supervision
• A signed declaration that the supervisor understands the CRPO’s definitions of clinical supervision and the scope of practice of psychotherapy (CRPO, n.d.2).

While the CRPO does not directly “approve” individual clinical supervisors, they may request verification to confirm that a supervisor meets these requirements. Therefore, it’s best practice to confirm your supervisor’s qualifications in advance to ensure your hours will be accepted.

CRPO Registered Psychotherapist Clinical Supervisors

As the CRPO does not have an approved list of clinical supervisors, finding a supervisor directly through the college is unlikely. So you’ll need to conduct an independent search to find one. 

Fortunately, the Canadian Clinical Supervision Therapist Directory is a great place to start your search.

The Canadian Clinical Supervision Therapist Directory is a directory of clinical supervisors across the country. When searching the directory, you can filter by province or profession. In other words, you can search for clinical supervisors in Ontario across all disciplines, or you can narrow your search to listings for only Registered Psychotherapists with the CRPO.

You may also want to reach out directly to clinical supervisors listed in the directory to ask about their supervision style, availability, and experience supporting qualifying members through the registration process. Taking time to find the right fit can make a significant difference in building your clinical skills while increasing your confidence as you work towards independent practice.

Conclusion

While there are no CRPO-approved clinical supervisors, you can easily find a Registered Psychotherapists with the CRPO who process supervision across Ontario by searching the Canadian Clinical Supervision Therapist Directory.

Taking the time to review clinical supervisor listings and select someone who not only meets CRPO’s supervision requirements, but also shares a similar theoretical orientation can help build a strong supervisory relationship. Being intentional with your choice of clinical supervisor is one of the most effective ways to support your professional growth as you work toward completing your clinical supervision hours.

Are you interested in learning more about how to determine whether a clinical supervisor is a good fit?

Check out our article 6 Things to Look for in a Clinical Supervisor

References

CRPO. (n.d.1). Does CRPO approve clinical supervisors or supervision training? Retrieved from https://crpo.ca/resource-articles/does-crpo-approve-clinical-supervisors-or-supervision-training/

CRPO. (n.d.2.) Clinical Supervision Requirements. Retrieved from https://crpo.ca/registrant-information/clinical-supervision-information/supervision-requirements/