December 3, 2025

Below please find a note from our colleague Julie Achtyl at the University of Rochester.  Let’s help Julie get the information she needs to advance best practices in the area of Clinical Supervision. I know Julie will appreciate your time and your support!

Dear Clinical Supervisors,

My name is Julie Achtyl and I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Rochester/Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development. I am writing to invite you to participate in a research study about examining the experiences, assessments, and interpretations of the Clinical Supervision Foundations (CSF) I & II required training for substance use disorder (SUD) clinical supervisors in New York State. The results will be used to inform best practices related to training and role preparation and highlight whether the current standards, and particularly, this training, meet the needs of this vital workforce.

If you decide to take part in this study, you will participate in a focus group discussion via Zoom with other substance use disorder clinical supervisors located across New York State, lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Two separate groups will be facilitated to aid in scheduling challenges. You will then be asked to participate in one subsequent individual interview, lasting from 45 to 60 minutes. The interview will occur through Zoom at a date and time convenient for you. I would like to record the discussions for later analysis; your responses will be confidential. The study is intended to benefit clinical practice, supervision, and overall preparedness for the role.

This project has been approved by the University of Rochester RSRB and is being closely supervised by my academic advisor: Douglas Guiffrida, PhD.

An Information Sheet providing you with more details about the study is attached to this e-mail. As always, I am happy to answer any questions over email or phone! For follow-up questions or concerns, please contact me via email at Julie_Achtyl@urmc.rochester.edu or by phone at 585-276-6047.

Thank you in advance for your support and kindly respond within one week of receipt of this email,

Sincerely,

Julie Achtyl

Julie V. Achtyl, MS, LMHC-D, CASAC-M, NCC, ACS

University of Rochester | Department of Psychiatry