The consultation is an exchange between two people in which a consultant shares his or her expertise about a certain subject with another party who might not possess the same knowledge and experience. Consultation is designed to give advice or insight on possible solutions to a problem. This service is designed to provide guidance for making decisions, without the direct involvement of the consultant.
Clinical supervision is used primarily in counseling and involves giving ongoing feedback, direction and training to counselors, psychotherapists and mental health professionals. This helps them be more effective with their clients/patients. The supervisor observes the sessions of the professional they supervise to determine if additional training or support is needed. The supervisor is usually responsible for the outcomes of decisions made and directs actions. The roles of supervisor and consultant can overlap in certain situations. A supervisor may act as a consultant, offering advice but not taking responsibility for the implementation. Conversely, consultants could be more involved when providing their insight depending on what the problem is. In any case it is essential that these two processes remain distinct so as not to confuse each role’s responsibilities or undermine either party’s capacity for effective action within their respective domains