What is clinical supervision for therapists?

Clinical supervision for therapists is a process in which we establish a regular time to go over your clinical sessions. And, we'll look over your clinical work in detail. In working this way together, my goal is to help you develop your therapeutic skills.

This kind of therapist training provides a safe place to reveal your clinical doubts, struggles, or questions about your work. In our meetings, we’ll carefully go over the specifics of your client sessions. I’ll help you clarify what’s going on in your therapeutic relationships from moment to moment. Additionally, there may be various things you’re unsure of. Clinical supervision helps you to develop more certainty about the client’s communications and how to best intervene.

For example, as a part of some difficult and complicated patient treatments, you might feel your therapeutic work has stalled. Or even have doubts about whether you can help a particular patient. These are troubling therapeutic events. As a result, another pair of supervisory eyes and ears can be of great help in sorting things out. Or, you just might feel that there is more to understand that you don’t yet have the skills to see.

Seeing what is below the surface or working out impasses can be a part of our ongoing supervisory relationship. Or you might want to come in for a series of consultations. Of course, as a part of any private therapist training or consultation sessions, we will look for solutions to help move the therapy forward.

If you continue with me in ongoing weekly supervision, you’ll bring these process notes to each visit. During our meetings, we’ll look at your patient’s transference. This means the ways the past lives in the present therapeutic relationship. And, we’ll find meaning and usefulness in your own countertransference reactions.

In our sessions, we’ll address any concerns or stumbling blocks you have with the patient we're discussing. Most importantly, you’ll have a chance to know more about your patient’s unconscious communications. Plus, I’ll help you find new ways to talk about these directly with your patient.

Do you observe client-patient-therapist interactions in clinical supervision?

No, I don’t directly observe client-patient-therapist interactions. But we can look closely at what happens between you through the detailed process notes you bring. I'd suggest that you write these as soon after the sessions as possible. But there's no pressure to remember everything, just what you can. What is at the top of your mind will lead us to what' most significant to understand.

Do we meet in person?

Under ordinary circumstances (when I am not out of my office due to the COVID-19 pandemic), we would meet in my office if you are in the greater Los Angeles area. During COVID, I am working by HIPAA-compliant Zoom. So, we’ll meet by Zoom now, or if you’re outside Los Angeles and wish to have supervision with me, that will be our main form of communication.

The difference between therapist training consultations and accreditation training

What I offer is private clinical supervision or therapist training consultations to licensed mental health professionals. Accreditation training (or accredited training) would be provided through a degree program at an accredited training institution, for a non-licensed person seeking a degree.

If you don’t yet have a degree, there are many accredited institutions that offer one. If you have a degree, but are unlicensed and looking for supervised hours, that is not something I can provide.

I have an extensive background in clinical work with quite troubled and traumatized patients, including experience working in a psychiatric hospital providing intensive and long-term care in the late 1970s.

I can supervise you regarding patients who have borderline personality disorders, sexual abuse histories, childhood abuse, eating disorders (under medical supervision), dissociative elements to their personality, as well as patients who present with anxiety, panic, obsessional symptoms, and depressive disorders.

Can I work with you if I’m outside Los Angeles or the United States?

Yes, I am licensed in California and can work with you by HIPAA-compliant Zoom from any city in California. If you are licensed and out of the country, I can work in a consultative capacity, also by Zoom.

How long is the therapy clinical supervision program? Is it ongoing or just one session?

The length of time we work together in clinical supervision is up to you. We can work for a period of time in ongoing weekly supervision.  Or, I am available for a one-session consultation about a particular issue.