Such an important step in our counselor development: Obtaining outstanding clinical supervision during the LPC Internship phase. Unsure of how to find a supervisor or what makes a good fit? Look for these qualities:
- Is the supervisor knowledgable about ethics? Ask for examples of how ethics are included in the suervisory experience.
- Is the supervisor accepting supervisees of differing theoretical orientation? If so, how will that difference work? What are some perceived strengths and weaknesss? Additionally, if the supervisee is just developing and exploring a theoretical orientation, how will that be addressed within the supervisory process?
- Will the supervisor be on-site? How will potential role conflicts of having a clinical supervisor and administrative supervisor "all in one" be managed? How will you be evaluated?
- Will the supervisor not be on site? How will they observe your competency? How will you be evaluated?
- What are the supervisor' areas of expertise? Populations? Settings? Disorders? Do they match with yours? If so, how will this be a benefit? If not, how will this be a benefit?
- What times and days are the supervisory meetings (manadatory minimum one hour per week in Texas)? How are illnesses, absences, and vacations managed? Are the hours "made up'? Is there an on-call supervisor to meet with?
- Is supervision done in a group format or and individual format? What are some strengths and weaknesses of each?
- What is the contracted rate? How are vacations handled?
- What forms are required? Is there anything I need to do (e.g., obtain profesional liability inurance)?
- What is expected of me in each supervision session (e.g., oral or written case onceptualization, role play, experiential, videotape or audiotape review, transcription, case studies, workshop attendance...)?
- Can the supervisor supervise you at more than one site?
Visit the Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors for the official roster of Licensed Professional Counselor Superviors. The roster is available in both downloadable Excel document and Pdf formats. Additionally, the Roster may be sorted by alphabetical listing of the supervisor's last name OR by their city.
