There are many therapists in practice but there are few that are able to combine technical proficiency with business know-how and great client handling.
LPC Supervision
Finding the right supervisor as an intern can be the most important task you face at the start of your professional career.
We suggest that you interview several supervisors and be sure to ask questions that do not solely focus on the academic or theoretical realms that you have become most familiar with during your schooling. Remember, becoming a successful practicing therapist is far more nuanced than theory alone, it is the ability to successfully apply theory to real people that are expecting real results. Your ability to provide these results (not theories) will determine the likelihood of you making a comfortable living and building a thriving career. There are many therapists in practice but there are few that are able to combine technical proficiency with business know-how and great client handling.
Before interviewing supervisors, ask yourself some questions like:
What type of supervision would most benefit me professionally?
What type of supervisor would most likely model the type of clinical skills that I may be lacking or need more exposure to?
What populations has this supervisor served in terms of demographics? i.e. severely mentally ill, families, children, individuals, or other… And most importantly…
Is my supervisor a full-time therapist?
This is a critical question that often times goes missed. There are many LPC Supervisors that derive most of their personal income as college professors, psychiatric hospital or county MHMR employees, landlords to other therapists in their building, or by providing supervisory services to interns… While there is absolutely nothing wrong with these business models, you (as the intern), must ask yourself if their knowledge base and experience is going to benefit you in your personal professional journey?
If your professional goal is to work in a hospital setting or academic institution then you would be best served by a supervisor that works in those areas.
If your ultimate goal is to build a private practice, it is prudent to seek out a supervisor that has a thriving practice that is sustained through providing outstanding service on a daily basis as their priority.
If your overall objective is to build an awesome practice, we would love to schedule a meeting and determine if our team is a good fit for your needs.
