AASP Certification Council Adopts Guidelines and Processes for CMPC Group Mentorship
The AASP Certification Council continually assesses aspects of certification to ensure alignment with best practices for current and future CMPCs, as well as those we serve. The Council recently adopted a specific policy for the use of group mentoring as a part of the training and mentored experience component of the CMPC program.
This policy goes into effect June 1, 2021. However, trainees who are already accruing mentored hours, will have until July 1, 2022 to complete their mentored experience hours without being held to this new policy.
Please refer to the following list for specific guidance related to group mentoring and the new policy:
1) Group mentoring is a process where a mentor, listed in the Registry of Approved mentors, meets with no more than 10 mentees in a group to enhance each mentee’s professional functioning and to monitor the provision of their mental performance services. Group mentoring is expected to be coupled with individual contact.
2) For those utilizing a group mentorship option, up to 10 hours of the mentored experience can be group mentoring if the following requirements are met. Group mentoring is not eligible for Direct Knowledge of Services hours.
The follow are additional considerations for those engaged in the mentorship process:
1) The intention of the group mentor is to support the professional functioning and service provision of each mentee through implementation of the following phases:
- Assessment of each mentee’s needs
- Formulation of individual learning goals
- Engagement of the mentee in learning and related development activities
- Monitoring of each mentee’s progress
2) Approved mentors, containing both certified and some non-certified mentors, will be listed in the online Registry of Approved Mentors. Individuals providing group mentorship are responsible for:
- Informing those in the mentoring group of its purpose and goals, including the individual component;
- Discussing concerns expressed by each mentee;
- Meeting individually with each mentee prior to the initiation of the group to engage the mentee:
- Assessment of the learning needs of the mentee
- Set learning goals for the mentee
- Discuss with the mentee the nature and scope of the case(s) that have been assigned to the mentee and to which the mentee will provide mental performance services, including what is confidential to each case.
- Conducting each group session in a way where confidentiality is maintained of clients discussed and where the focus is learning and professional functioning of each mentee;
- Monitoring themselves so that they do not get off course regarding the group’s purpose and goals;
- Meeting individually with each mentee at least once at the conclusion of the group mentoring experience to assess the progress the mentee has made toward their learning goals;
- Other relevant professional responsibilities, including record keeping; and,
- Conducting an evaluation of the group mentoring experience with particular attention to:
- What have been the reactions of mentees to the group and the individual component?
- How does it seem that mentees have benefitted from the group mentoring experience?
- What actions can be taken for the continued development and improvement of the group mentoring process and experience?
