Associate Supervision Across Distance and Scope
Dr. Marcus Chen is a licensed psychologist in Albuquerque and the board-approved supervisor for Ms. Torres, a licensed psychologist associate. Ms. Torres has completed 16 months of supervised post-master's experience and has 8 months left on her supervision plan. She is offered a job at a community clinic 95 miles away, where she would provide individual therapy, intakes with diagnosis, and court-ordered custody evaluations. Dr. Chen plans to move to Colorado next month but will keep his New Mexico license active. He proposes to supervise Ms. Torres one hour per month by video and to review her custody evaluations by email. Ms. Torres's current clinic has no other licensed psychologist. She asks whether she can start the new job next week and whether she can sign custody reports as the primary evaluator while Dr. Chen reviews them later.
1. What must happen before Ms. Torres changes jobs or supervision arrangements?
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The supervision plan is a Board-approved document, so the first step is to contact the Board or review the current rule to determine what changes require prior approval. Ms. Torres should not start the new position on the assumption that the old plan travels with her. Dr. Chen must confirm that he remains an eligible supervisor, that the new site and duties fit the plan, and that there is a written plan for emergency coverage, record review, and direct observation. If the Board requires an amended plan, that amendment should be submitted and approved before she begins. The clinic must also understand that she is an associate practicing under supervision, not an independent psychologist.
2. Evaluate the proposed one-hour-per-month video supervision and email review of custody evaluations.
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That proposal is unlikely to satisfy the Board's supervision requirements. One hour per month is too infrequent to monitor a new job, diagnostic intakes, and high-risk evaluations, and email review after the fact is not equivalent to supervision. Video supervision may be permitted if the Board approves it and confidentiality, identity verification, and emergency availability are addressed, but it does not excuse the required frequency and quality of oversight. Dr. Chen's move to Colorado does not automatically end his eligibility if his New Mexico license remains active and the Board permits the arrangement, but time-zone differences and distance must not impair availability. The safer course is to arrange more frequent live supervision, a local backup supervisor, or a different placement.
3. Can Ms. Torres perform custody evaluations and sign reports as the primary evaluator?
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Custody evaluations are a specialized, high-risk forensic service. Ms. Torres may participate only if the Board-approved plan authorizes it, she has specific competence, and Dr. Chen has the forensic competence to supervise the work. She should not sign as the primary evaluator in a way that implies independent psychological authority. Reports should accurately identify her associate status and the supervising psychologist's role, and the court should be informed of the supervision arrangement. If the plan does not cover forensic work, the clinic should decline or refer those cases. Dr. Chen's email review after the report is drafted is not adequate supervision for an associate learning a new forensic role.