Congratulations on completing your academic journey! You are now ready to embark on your post-master’s supervised experience under the supervision of a Board approved qualified supervisor. Supervision is a place to develop the necessary skills and practice of counseling to protect one’s clients and become a competent practitioner. Deciding on your licensure supervisor is an important decision. It is crucial to choose a supervisor you feel comfortable with, confident in, and have a relationship with where you can explore your own growth as a therapist. Before you begin the selection process of securing a supervisor, here are some helpful suggestions:
1. Supervision requirements:
-Know the requirements needed for supervised clinical hours by accessing the Board's website:
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling
2. Finding the right supervisor:
-Consider your theoretical interests.
If for example, you have a passion and deep interest in psychoanalytic therapy, you may want to consider getting a qualified supervisor with training and experience in that field. You want to find a supervisor who is trained in the populations and treatment approaches you will work with.
3. What are your long-term goals?
-If your long-term goal is private practice, it will be beneficial to seek out a supervisor that already has an established private practice. They will be able to provide you with feedback on building a private practice, and special considerations in working in private practice.
4. Locating a Board approved qualified supervisor:
-Ask for referrals from people you already know in the field.
-You can access that information through the Board website, listed above, or at the sites listed below:
Florida Mental Health Counselors Association
5. How much can I expect to pay?
-The cost for supervision ranges from $55-150 an hour and some qualified supervisors offer packages for the month or for a number of sessions. The cost of supervision is going to depend on the experience of your supervisor and the format. Group supervision generally costs less than individual supervision. You are able to alternate group supervision with individual supervision each session.
Supervision Provided: my approach
As an approved clinical supervisor in the state of Florida, I am here to help you in a safe and supportive environment that allows you to be accountable while learning, whether in individual or group supervision. I employ an integrative approach to supervision, the Discrimination Model (Bernard & Goodyear, 1992). The supervisee is assessed on three skill areas, or foci: (a) intervention (observable behaviors that the supervisee demonstrates in session, such as demonstration of skills and interventions); (b) conceptualization (cognitive processes, such as the supervisee’s ability to recognize the client’s themes and patterns, as well as the supervisee’s level of understanding of what is taking place in session); and (c) personalization (supervisee self-awareness and ability to adapt his or her own personal style of counseling while maintaining awareness of personal issues and countertransference). In response, my supervisory role may be that of a teacher, counselor, or consultant, always being cognizant of the supervisee's needs. Supervisors are advised to remain attuned to the supervisee’s needs in order to attend to his or her most pressing focus area and to assume the most suitable role for addressing these needs rather than displaying strict adherence to a preferred focus or role (Bernard & Goodyear, 2014).
Allow me to support your goal of achieving licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Browse my website here at www.judithrobertstherapy.com to learn more about my clinical experience and areas of interest. You will note that I have been in private practice for over 20 years and can also offer guidance on how to establish your own. Feel free to contact me to set up a meeting to ensure a good fit. Looking forward to assisting you on your journey!
