This investigation examined the cognitive factors that influence case conceptualization (CC) and treatment planning (TP) tasks among experienced mental health professionals. A thinking aloud process-tracing strategy was used to identify problem-solving styles and clinical judgment strategies used by 25 licensed psychologists, clinical mental health counselors, and clinical social workers while responding to a standardized case conceptualization and treatment planning task. Cluster analysis revealed a four cluster solution that differentiated among treatment planning scores of these clinicians. SPSS discriminant analyses identified (a) three problem-solving styles (i.e., differentiation, integration, affiliation) that correctly predicted cluster membership in 96% of cases, and (b) three clinical judgment strategies (i.e., minimal, complex, heuristic) that correctly predicted cluster membership for all of these clinicians. Implications of these findings for training and research are presented.

This study compared clinical judgment on case conceptualization and treatment planning (TP) tasks among psychologists, mental health counselors, and social workers using Clinical Treatment Planning Simulations depicting anxiety and affective disorders. Orientation and work setting did not significantly influence judgment; experience exerted a “modest” curvilinear effect Mental health counselors scored higher than social workers and similar to psychologists on both tasks. The best predictors of TP scores for the anxiety disorder were interventions addressing stress management and family dynamics; strong predictors for the affective disorder included focus on family dynamics and the therapeutic relationship. Implications of findings for training are discussed.

Supervisors are accountable for interventions and clinical decisions implemented by their supervisees. As clinical supervision gains stature as a specialized practice domain within mental health service delivery, evolving ethical standards and legal precedents have identified documentation as a standard of competent supervisory practice. This paper reviews existing templates for supervisor record-keeping. An illustrative case highlights the benefits of documentation for structuring supervision, overseeing supervisee clinical work, promoting their professional development, and providing risk management for the supervisor.