Clinical Supervision

I take a mindful, integrative, collaborative, intersectionality focused approach to supervision. That sounds like a lot, I know. Considering we, as clinicians, bring our whole selves to the care we provide to our clients, it's important that I take an approach that encourages you to draw from your life experiences as you begin to balance your unique and individual art form of therapy with well-established scientific treatments and ethics of counseling.

The science of therapy involves being competent in using evidenced-based methods of treatment; being knowledgeable about the appropriate code of ethics; and diligent about seeking continuing education as our field of practice evolves.

On the other hand, the art of therapy refers to technique and is more nuanced and individualistic in that it involves knowing when to use those evidence-based methods and knowing when to be silent, empathize, support, reflect or possibly challenge a client to go beyond their edge of comfort. The art of therapy is an opportunity for a co-creative experience between the client and the clinician to emerge. Each experience will be as unique as each client, their history, their symptoms, their needs, and their willingness to engage in the therapeutic process.

My role as a clinical supervisor will take many forms:

• The teacher (provides education when needed)

• The counselor (uses counseling skills to guide supervisee into exploration of their own responses, beliefs, feelings, and motivations that may influence their work).

• The consultant (provides alternative case conceptualizations that may assist supervisee in problem solving client needs)

• The mentor/coach (supportive role, provide morale building, assess strengths and needs, suggest varying clinical approaches, bring awareness to signs of burnout, model and encourage self-care, nurture clinical ideas and curiosity in supervisee, etc).

Group Supervision available upon request and availability.

As an approved supervisor, I attest that I have completed the following:

• 30+ hours of training in clinical supervision obtained through continuing education on supervision. (Northwest ATTC; December 2015 and February 2021)

• I have accumulated over 200 hours of experience in supervision of clinical practice. I provided clinical supervision for counseling internship students (City University, Seattle, Washington) in Behavioral Health Inpatient and Partial Hospitalization settings. During this time I met with students weekly for case consultation and feedback based on Master of Arts in Counseling program outcomes and CACREP Standards specific to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization.

• I am currently providing clinical supervision for Washington State clinicians in private practice.

From the WASHINGTON ADMINISTRATIVE CODE (WAC)

For LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS AND LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY ASSOCIATES (WAC 246-809-130) :

At least two hundred hours of qualified supervision with an approved supervisor*.

(i) Of the two hundred hours, one hundred hours must be with a licensed marriage and family therapist with at least five years of clinical experience; the other one hundred hours may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner;

(ii) At least one hundred of the two hundred hours must be one-on-one supervision**; and

(iii) The remaining hours may be in one-on-one or group supervision***.

For LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR ASSOCIATES (WAC 246-809-230):

(3)(a) The experience requirement consists of a minimum of thirty-six months full-time counseling or three thousand hours of postgraduate mental health counseling under the supervision of a qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner in an approved setting.

(b) Of the three thousand hours:

(i) One hundred hours spent in immediate supervision**** with the qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner; and

(ii) At least one thousand two hundred hours must be direct counseling with individuals, couples, families, or groups.

(4) Applicants who have completed a master's or doctoral program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) will be credited with fifty hours of postgraduate supervision and five hundred hours of postgraduate experience.

* "Approved supervisor" means a licensed marriage and family therapist, or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. (WAC 246-809-110)

** "One-on-one supervision" means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than two licensure candidates.(WAC 246-809-110)

*** "Group supervision" means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than six licensure candidates. (WAC 246-809-110)

**** "Immediate supervision" means a meeting with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than two licensure candidates. (WAC 246-809-210)