Solution-Focused Supervision in Higher Education: Practical Approaches for Student Support Engagement & Retention
ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CqPGomloQGSnZREVerZ76g
This two-hour introductory course introduces a solution-focused supervision approach that strengthens student belonging and supports retention. Drawing on Learning Solution-Focused Therapy: An Illustrated Guide by Anne Lutz, MD, participants examine brief, structured conversations that highlight strengths, clarify best hopes, and guide next steps. As supervisors begin using these practices, students are more likely to experience greater belonging and to persist in their studies.
Solution-Focused Supervision is an evidence-based approach in which supervisors first recognize existing competencies, then focus the conversation on best hopes and identify the people, resources, and campus contexts that can support those aims. Solution-focused scaling helps translate this focus into the next sensible step. The model moves from noticing competencies to articulating best hopes, to offering feedback that sustains progress. Through interactive discussion and short demonstrations, participants practice the language and begin integrating it into everyday supervision across advising, mentoring, clinical placements, and student-support roles. As these conversations emphasize strengths and purposeful progress, they help create conditions in which students feel valued and connected, experiences consistently associated with stronger retention and persistence.
Target Audience
- Social workers, psychologists, mental health counselors, and peer support workers.
- College advisors, case managers, student services professionals, faculty, interdisciplinary teams
- All experience levels
- Introductory focus
The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy and all instructional personnel involved in this continuing education program have no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. This course is presented for educational purposes only and is free from commercial support or product endorsement.
Learning Objectives
By course end, participants will be able to:
- Describe the relationship between Solution-Focused Supervision, student engagement, and academic persistence/retention in higher education.
- Differentiate Solution-Focused Supervision from problem-focused approaches and identify its core assumptions.
- Identify the three phases of Solution-Focused Supervision and the purpose of each phase in guiding supervisee/student progress.
- Apply at least two Solution-Focused questioning techniques — such as Best Hopes and scaling — during breakout practice to support supervisee/student capability.
Course Assessment
Participants will be assessed in the following manner:
● Class Participation: Participants are encouraged to clarify any points they do not understand, pose questions, offer ideas, and broaden their perspectives. Attend the entire live session (cameras on unless accommodation granted)
● Actively participate in activities and discussions.
● There will be a 15-item multiple-choice test designed to assess your understanding and ability to apply the course material. You may take the exam multiple times until you pass and receive a passing grade of 80%.
● Complete the post-session evaluation.
● Print your Certificate of Completion upon meeting all requirements
Certificate of Completion
After you have completed all of the sections, passed the exam, and completed the course evaluation, you will receive your certificate of completion. You will be able to save and print the certificate.
Continuing Education Credit Information
2 CE Credit/Clock Hours are available for this live course.
Please see our Continuing Education Information page for information about CE credits, clock hours, and our accreditations and approvals for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and occupational therapists.
The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy offers continuing education credit for this live, interactive 2-hour course. Participants must attend the full session with their cameras on, actively engage in course activities, and complete a post-course evaluation to receive a certificate of completion.
Psychologists
The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC, is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC, maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists completing this course receive 2 continuing education hours.
The Institute is also recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists (#PSY-0127).
Social Workers
The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, provider number 1831, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/22/2023 – 9/22/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical continuing education credits.
The Institute is also approved by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work (#SW-0656), and by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling.
Counselors
The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7049. The Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, LLC, is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. Counselors completing this course receive 2 clock hours.
The Institute is also approved by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors (#MHC-0233), and by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board.
Participants should check with their professional licensing boards to ensure that a specific course will be accepted for their continuing education requirements.
To receive continuing education hours, the participant must attend the entire online presentation with their camera on, engage in all activities, and complete the course evaluation.
Upon successfully completing the course, participants will be given instructions on downloading and printing their Certificates of Completion.
No conflicts of interest or commercial support are present for the CE program, instructor, or presentation.