Trauma-Informed Supervision: Essential Tools for High Acuity Settings

NASW-WA Live Webinar

January 8, 2027, 9:00 am - 12:00 am, PST
via Zoom

3 CE Credits

Presented by Jim Leighty, MSW, LICSW, MSM

Price: $75/NASW Members, $120/Non-Members
Register Now: https://tinyurl.com/4u2m4p6u

Webinar Summary:Supervising clinicians in high-acuity settings requires more than reviewing cases and providing support. Supervisors must recognize the effects of cumulative stress and trauma exposure, remain aware of how their own reactions shape supervision, maintain appropriate boundaries, and make sound supervisory choices when situations become difficult. This focused three-hour training introduces practical lenses and tools for trauma-informed supervision in high acuity settings. Participants will examine vicarious trauma and burnout, supervisor stress responses, over-functioning and boundaries, and structured approaches to challenging supervision situations. Emphasis is placed on recognizing patterns early, maintaining an effective supervisory stance, and applying practical tools in day-to-day supervision.

Goals: Participants will:

• Strengthen their ability to recognize the effects of trauma exposure, cumulative stress, and burnout within the supervisory relationship.
• Increase awareness of how their own stress responses may influence supervisory judgment and interactions.
• Strengthen their ability to balance support, accountability, supervisee autonomy, and appropriate supervisory boundaries when responding to challenging situations.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout and identify observable patterns that may warrant supervisory attention.
• Identify personal stress-response patterns and describe how those patterns may influence supervisory judgment and communication.
• Differentiate supportive supervision from over-functioning and apply boundary-setting strategies that preserve supervisee responsibility and autonomy.
• Apply a structured approach to a challenging supervision situation and identify an appropriate supervisory response, including when consultation or escalation may be warranted.

About the Presenter:

Jim Leighty, MSW, LICSW, MSM, is a licensed independent clinical social worker, clinical supervisor, trainer, and curriculum developer specializing in trauma-informed, equity-centered supervision and behavioral health workforce development. He holds a Master of Social Work and a Master of Science in Management.
His training experience spans clinical, juvenile justice, and workforce-development settings. While leading ACT teams at Navos and DESC, he developed training in ACT fidelity, crisis intervention, and involuntary commitment across adult and youth-serving settings. He served as curriculum lead for King County Juvenile Detention's Mental Health Training for Juvenile Justice program and is a CPI-certified instructor in nonviolent crisis intervention. He later led statewide training and technical assistance through the Northwest Center for Family Support at the UW School of Social Work, developing site-specific adaptations and facilitator resources grounded in adult learning principles.
As an independent trainer and consultant, Jim works with behavioral health clinicians, supervisors, and organizations. Before entering behavioral health, he spent 20 years building and leading teams in the Marine Corps, experience that continues to shape his approach to leadership and team development.
His work centers on helping supervisors build sound clinical judgment, maintain effective boundaries, and develop sustainable teams in demanding environments.