“Let’s get that bread,” & other things to say to potential LPC-Supervisors.
In my previous post I wrote about the importance of knowing what counts towards your LPC, and that it’s important that Licensed Professional Counselor-Associates find LPC-Supervisors that are knowledgable about the approved practices for counseling. Here, I will provide you some basic ideas to think about when interviewing potential LPC-Supervisors.
In Texas, LPC-Associates must supervision for a minimum of 18 months and until they accumulate 3000 hours. So even if you worked 24 hours a day, and every one of those hours counted towards your license, it would still go no faster than 18 months. That’s a long time.
The single biggest piece of advise I have for soon-to-be LPC-Associates is to be confident about your choice for an LPC-Supervisor.
Ideally, you want a supervisor who is available to you; open to your questions and concerns; and most importantly, someone who is ethical.
A supervisor who is available is one who will work with you between supervision sessions. Be wary of a person who will limit you to only designated supervision sessions. Are you able to open to contact your supervisor on the weekend? What about after hours? I am not suggesting that supervisors be available at a moment’s notice, or even 24/7. I am, however, suggesting that you feel confident in your ability to get hold of your supervisor.
Comfort with you supervisor is also paramount. Although the supervisor is not your counselor (which is important to remember), you should feel comfortable talking to them about your experience as a counselor. It is normal to feel frustrated with clients at times. It is normal to feel inadequate (i.e., Impostor Syndrome). It is normal to have a personal reaction to things that happen in the counseling session. And talking about all of these things is the point of supervision; to address your reactions and concerns. So, then, what would happen if you felt that you could not be open about your concerns and experiences with your supervisor? That’s right; none of those things would be addressed.
The supervision process is a balancing act with three components. Is that still considered balancing…if there are three things? Or should I have said the whole “spinning plates” thing? Anyway.
Supervisors play the role of a teacher at times. The educational piece focuses on things like ethics, theory, and general “how-to” type stuff. The LPC-Associate brings questions and gains additional information that may not have been offered during grad school, or information that further refines what was learned.
Supervisors also play the role of consultant. They can provide case consultation for the new counselor. Drawing from their clinical experiences, LPC-Supervisors help with case conceptualization and treatment planning. Just as importantly, Supervisors can provide knowledge and guidance about ethical situations (should you find yourself in such a situation). Supervision also entails helping your prepare for job interviews and negotiations; cleaning up your resume or CV; and even helping you develop a plan for your own practice (if that is what you want to do).
The third role - though not necessarily the last role - for the LPC-Supervisor is that of a coach. Where as the other two roles are more educational and informative in nature, the coaching aspect is considerably more personal. Coaching entails identifying strengths and “growing edges.” Your supervisor wants you to succeed! In an effort to reach that end, supervisors will push you to reflect on your experiences, comforts, and discomforts; ask you to explore your reactions to various situations; and will encourage you to take steps that ensure your growth, development, and success.
I stated in my previous post about the importance of feeling comfortable and confident with your LPC-Supervisor, and hopefully this post highlights why. You are the only person that knows what you need from a supervisor. Meeting with a potential supervisor is as much of an interview for them as it is for you. Ask questions. Give hypotheticals. For some, this can be an uncomfortable experience and I know that you can manage that discomfort. To help get you started, here are some questions that I think all LPC-Associates should ask potential supervisors.
How many interns do you supervise?
Can I contact you between supervision sessions?
Will supervision be limited to case consultation?
Looking at all the things that an LPC can do and my current/proposed responsibilities, which responsibilities will you allow me to count towards licensure?
On the flip-side of things, the LPC-Supervisor may have specific questions and expectations of you. This is a reasonable expectation. After all, the supervisor will take on 100% of the penalty if an intern behaves unethically. So naturally, LPC-Supervisors are going to want to know about you and your ability to be an ethical counselor (which I’m sure you will be).
Both people should express needs and concerns. I’ve focused more on Associates, here, because many new graduates may not fully understand the supervision process and expectations until they are already signed up with a supervisor. My hope would be that new graduates are aware of what to expect, and that they would meet potential supervisors knowing what they want to get out of the internship. In other words, I want Associates to understand that they have a voice in this relationship, and that they should use it.
If you would like more information about supervision, or would like to talk about supervision with me, please feel free to contact me!