Clinical Supervision for Social Workers in Alberta
A space to get curious, think creatively & grow your clinical practice.
Come as you are. Bring the complicated stuff. Let's get curious together.
Clinical work can be rewarding, meaningful, messy, and sometimes downright challenging. Even experienced clinicians have moments when they wonder, "Am I approaching this the right way?" or "What else could I try?"
At Birdie, supervision is grounded in connection, curiosity, and collaboration.
Our approach is relational, attachment-focused, trauma-informed, and strengths-based. We value the knowledge and experience you already bring to your work while creating opportunities to explore different perspectives and possibilities. Rather than focusing solely on finding the "right" answer, supervision invites thoughtful reflection, creativity, and the courage to try something new. The hope? That you leave each session feeling a little more grounded, supported, and confident in your own clinical voice.
Who Is Clinical Supervision For?
Birdie offers clinical supervision and case consultation for Registered Social Workers in Alberta, with a particular interest in supporting clinicians working with:
-
Children, adolescents, young adults, and families
-
Anxiety, emotional regulation, grief, loss, and trauma
-
Attachment, parenting, and family relationship challenges
-
Neurodivergent children and youth
-
Play-based, expressive, and creative therapeutic approaches
-
Child-focused EMDR and trauma-informed interventions
Supervision may be a good fit whether you're newer to clinical practice, transitioning into a different area of work, navigating complex cases, or seeking continued professional growth. We welcome social workers practising in private practice, community agencies, schools, and other mental health settings.
What Can We Explore Together?
Your clinical practice is unique. Your supervision should be, too.
Supervision is tailored to your experience, professional goals, and the challenges you're navigating.
Clinical Case Consultation
Explore challenging cases, case conceptualization, treatment planning, therapeutic interventions, and the moments when you're feeling stuck. Together, we can consider different perspectives and identify practical next steps.
Creative & Play-Based Approaches
Working with children and youth often calls for thinking beyond traditional talk therapy. Explore creative interventions, play-based techniques, attachment-informed strategies, and ways to make therapeutic work accessible and engaging for younger clients.
Trauma & Child-Focused EMDR
Reflect on trauma-informed clinical work, nervous system regulation, resourcing, and integrating developmentally appropriate approaches when supporting children and adolescents. Consultation can incorporate child-focused EMDR concepts within the supervisor's scope of competence.
Ethical Practice & Professional Decision-Making
Navigate ethical dilemmas, professional boundaries, complex family dynamics, documentation questions, and challenging clinical decisions in a thoughtful, supportive environment.
Building Confidence in Your Clinical Voice
Supervision isn't only about what you do with your clients. It's also about who you are as a clinician.
Explore self-awareness, therapeutic relationships, your use of self, and the beliefs or expectations that influence your clinical work. Build confidence in your professional judgment while staying open to learning and growth.
Supervision Options
We recognize that social workers have different learning styles, schedules, and professional (and financial!) needs. Birdie offers flexible supervision options.
Individual
Dedicated one-on-one time to explore your clinical practice, reflect on challenging situations, and receive personalized support. Individual supervision offers space for deeper exploration of clinical decision-making, case consultation, and professional development.
Dyadic
An opportunity for two clinicians to learn and reflect together with a supervisor. Dyadic supervision combines personalized support with the benefits of shared perspectives, collaborative problem-solving, and learning from another clinician's experiences.
Group
A collaborative learning environment where clinicians can share experiences, explore clinical challenges, and gain fresh perspectives. Small-group supervision encourages creativity, connection, and professional growth while building a sense of community among social workers. Group supervision takes place virtually.
Meet Your Clinical Supervisor
Ellen Bird, MSW, RCSW
Founder of Birdie Counselling | Registered Clinical Social Worker
Hi, I'm Ellen! I'm a Registered Clinical Social Worker and the founder of Birdie Counselling in Calgary, Alberta. I bring approximately 10 years of experience supporting children, youth, young adults, and families across community, educational, and private practice settings. My clinical work has focused on child and adolescent mental health, trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, emotional regulation, attachment, and family relationships. I'm particularly passionate about incorporating creative and developmentally appropriate approaches into therapy, including child-focused EMDR, play-based interventions, narrative therapy, and attachment-focused work. My approach to supervision reflects many of the same values I bring to the therapy room: connection, authenticity, compassion, creativity, and curiosity.
I don't believe you need to have all the answers to be a thoughtful and effective clinician. I believe there's value in asking questions, reflecting on what feels difficult, and having the courage to explore new possibilities. My goal is to provide supervision that feels supportive, collaborative, and practical, while helping you develop greater confidence in your own professional knowledge and judgment. I look forward to getting curious and growing together!
.jpg)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be working toward a clinical designation to receive supervision?
Not at all! Clinical supervision can be valuable at different stages of your professional journey.
Many social workers seek ongoing supervision to strengthen clinical skills, explore challenging cases, reflect on ethical considerations, and support their continued professional development.
Can supervision count toward the ACSW Clinical Practice Enhancement?
The Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) has specific requirements regarding eligible supervisors and supervision arrangements for its Clinical Practice Enhancement (CPE).
If you're seeking supervision for this purpose, it's important to confirm with the ACSW that the proposed supervisor and arrangement meet the requirements applicable to your application before beginning.
Is virtual clinical supervision available?
Yes! Virtual supervision is available to social workers across Alberta. In-person sessions are also available in Calgary.
What if I just need help with a challenging case?
Case consultation is an important part of our supervision offering. Whether you're looking for ongoing professional support or want to explore a specific clinical challenge, we can discuss what type of consultation may be the best fit.