Support doesn’t stop at the supervisee.
For Supervisors Who Hold the Pain of Others
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When a client dies by suicide, clinical supervisors often find themselves navigating complex layers of grief, ethics, team dynamics, and personal impact—often with little guidance or support.
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This half-day training introduces a trauma-informed, culturally responsive Three-Phase Framework for postvention clinical supervision to help you lead with clarity, care, and confidence during some of the most challenging moments in our profession.
You’ll walk away with:
Here’s What’s Included in Your Workshop
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A clear understanding of the Three Phases of postvention supervision:
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Safety & Stabilization
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Meaning-Making & Reflection
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Reconnection & Integration
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Tools to support supervisees without overfunctioning or shutting down
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Considerations for documentation, liability, and ethical care
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Grounding practices to support your own nervous system and avoid retraumatization
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Reflections on cultural humility and systemic power in postvention
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Optional workbook with prompts, tools, and sample templates
Who It’s For:
This training is designed for:
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Clinical supervisors in mental health and allied health settings
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Team leads, managers, and educators overseeing clinicians or interns
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Professionals who want a practical, reflective, and research-informed approach
About Your Facilitator
I’m a registered social worker/psychotherapist, educator, and clinical supervisor who works with counsellors across Canada and internationally. Over the years, I’ve supported professionals navigating the emotional and ethical terrain that follows a client death, helping them find steadiness in the storm.
I created this training because I know the silence that can surround these experiences. As a supervisor, I’ve sat with supervisees holding immense pain and fear, and I’ve learned how essential it is to have a grounded, compassionate, and structured approach to postvention.
This is a space where we acknowledge the weight of this work, connect with our values, and build supervisory practices that are clinically sound and deeply human.
Dr. Heidi Nichilo
MA, DCP., RSW
Training Details
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Wednesday November 5, 2025
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8:30 AM - 12:00 PM EST (Virtual)
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$195 + HST
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Limited spots available — registration will close once capacity is reached.
FAQs
Q: Who is this training for?
This training is designed for clinical supervisors, managers, and educators who support counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, and mental health professionals—especially those working with high-risk or trauma-exposed populations. Whether you supervise individuals, groups, or teams, this framework is built to support reflective, ethical, and person-centered postvention practices.
Q: Do I need to have experienced a client suicide to benefit from this training?
Not at all. While the training addresses how to respond after a client suicide, it’s equally focused on prevention, preparation, and building resilient supervision practices. Many participants take this training to feel more equipped before a crisis happens, to support supervisees who have experienced loss, or to strengthen their overall supervisory skill set.
Q: What makes this framework different from other supervision models?
This is one of the few training programs that directly addresses the emotional, relational, and systemic complexities of client suicide through a clinical postvention lens. It integrates reflective practice, trauma-informed care, and ethical supervision principles into a three-phase structure that’s flexible, practical, and deeply compassionate. This isn’t just about managing risk—it’s about fostering connection, meaning, and growth.
Q: Is this a trauma-informed training?
Yes. The entire framework is grounded in trauma-informed principles. We attend to power dynamics, emotional regulation, vicarious trauma, and the impact of grief and loss on both the supervisee and the supervisor. You’ll leave with concrete tools and language to support supervisees without bypassing the complexity of their experience.
Q: How is the training delivered?
The training can be delivered virtually or in-person, depending on the setting. It’s typically offered as a half-day intensive, with the option to expand into a full-day training or multi-session series for deeper integration. It includes a mix of presentation, case reflection, small-group dialogue, and guided application of the framework.
Q: Will I get materials or resources to use with supervisees?
Yes. Participants receive a professionally designed workbook that includes a breakdown of the Three Phase Framework, reflection tools, case prompts, and customizable supervision planning templates. You’ll also receive optional follow-up resources and scripts you can adapt for one-on-one or group supervision contexts.
Q: Can this be customized for my organization or team?
Absolutely. The training can be tailored to your sector (e.g., youth mental health, addictions, community-based care) or specific organizational needs. Customizations may include integration with your supervision structures, policies, or postvention protocols.
Q: Does this training count toward continuing education or supervision hours?
Yes. A certificate of completion is provided. Depending on your regulatory body, this training may be eligible for continuing education credits or supervision-specific hours. It’s your responsibility to confirm eligibility with your college or association.
You don't have to navigate this work alone.
This isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about showing up with steadiness when things get hard.
About holding space for others—and for yourself.
It’s about knowing how to lead with compassion, even when the path is unclear.
When the grief is fresh. When the system feels too big.
When all you can offer is your presence—and that’s more than enough.