Quarterly Newsletter, June 2009, Vol. 18 No. 2

Supervisor Responsibilities in the Art of Supervision 


In a previous article we discussed the registration of supervised experience as well as the qualifications of a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S). Our attention now turns to the responsibility the supervisor has in assisting the counselor intern in increasing their skills as a mental health professional. This is a task not to be taken lightly because it will definitely have long range repercussions. The manner in which a supervisor exercises this responsibility will directly affect the public who may seek mental health services from a licensed Professional Counselor. As a supervisor you must ask yourself “Am I up to this task?” and do I have what it takes in order to fulfill the responsibilities of a supervisor. Well, let’s take a look at some of those responsibilities. They include providing nurturance and support to the counselor intern, ensuring the counselor intern’s familiarity with important literature in the filed of counseling, providing training appropriate to the counselor intern’s intended area of expertise and practice, and modeling effective professional counseling practice. 

Nurturance and support can be achieved by consistently reviewing the information the counselor intern ahs learned in their graduate studies. This review is conducted in order to ascertain if the counselor has a sufficient understanding of the models for practice and challenging discrepancies in the counselor intern’s practice. One area of concern may be which direction to take if there is an inconsistency between their worksite’s policy and the law, rules, and the American Counseling Association’s policy and procedures.

There is an abundance of literature that pertains to the field of counseling. It should be the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that the counselor intern is familiar with whatever there is that pertains to their area of practice and interest. This could be obtained from numerous professional publications that are disseminated through professional organizations. It would also be in the counselor’s best interest to join a professional organization for this information. The American Counseling Association would be a good reference. Local organizations could also be an option. 

Any conscientious supervisor should have the expertise and experience in the area in which the counselor intern intends to pursue. As such, if a supervisor has limited skills or experience in the area of substance abuse, for example, it would be prudent to refer that counselor to someone who does has adequate experience and training in this area.

It is the supervisor’s duty to model practices that would allow the counselor intern to have a positive role model with which to base their practice. This is done by consistently adhering to the law, rules, and code of conduct that governs mental health counseling. Eventually the counselor intern will develop a healthy outlook on their ability to provide the public with quality services.  

An appropriate professional setting for the supervision should be sought by the counselor intern and reviewed by the supervisor before submitting the application for supervision to the board. The counselor intern should receive their supervision in a setting that allows them to enhance their clinical skills to a point where they are comfortable and can gain the confidence needed to provide adequate mental health counseling to the public. The site should be regularly visited by the supervisor to ensure conformity. 

The role you play as a supervisor in critical to the supervisory process. Supervision of counselor interns is an undertaking that should not be considered lightly. The protection of the public should be a prime consideration when supervising counselor interns. Supervision is an art that should be practiced to the utmost in order to achieve maximum benefits.

TRAINING for LPC SUPERVISORS
 
The next 3-day training sessions to become a Board Approved Supervisor will be
conducted Sept 12-13 and Oct 3, 2009 at the Holiday Inn in Gonzales, LA.
I-10 at Hwy 30 East (between N.O. and B.R). Class size is restricted.
 
Tuition is $325 if registration is received by Aug 28, 2009 and $345 after that date.

8:30 am – 6:00 pm each day

Examination schedule for 2008/2009:

Exam registration forms can be obtained by calling the LPC Board office at 225/765-2515 or the LPC Board website at www.lpcboard.org and also on the NBCC website at www.nbcc.org/stateboardmap.

Fee $185.00 make checks payable to NBCC.

Questions about the Exam: Tel: 336/547-0607 FAX: 336/547-0017

E-mail: nbcc@nbcc.org

ADDRESS CHANGES FOR: LPC/COUNSELOR INTERNS/LMFT/MFT INTERNS

Notify the Board in writing of your change of address. Be sure to let us know what address you wish to use for correspondence and what address you wish to use for the website. There is a rule which gives you 30 days to notify the Board of any and all changes in name, address, and phone number. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a $50.00 fine. It is very important that the Board have a current address for all of their licensees especially at renewal time.. Please help us by sending in your changes. You can change your address by e-mailing lpcboard@eatel.net, faxing 225/7652514, or by calling the Board office 225/7652515. mailto:lpcboard@eatel.net,

BOARD ACTION
 

As of March 31, 2009 there were:

LPCs 2136 LMFTs 934

Counselor Interns 857 MFT Interns 130

110 LPC Applications Reviewed 3 LMFT Applications Reviewed

36 Approved for Licensure 0 LMFTs Approved for Licensure

60 Counselor Interns Registered for Supervision 3 MFT Interns Registered for Supervision

14 Counselor Interns Changed Supervisor 0 MFT Intern Changed Supervisor

DISCIPLINE REPORT
 

Ten complaints have been filed in FY 02/03. None remain under investigation

Eleven complaints have been filed in FY 03/04. None remain under investigation.

Ten complaints have been filed in FY 04/05. None remain under investigation

Eight complaints have been filed in FY 05/06. None remains under investigation

Eighteen complaints have been filed in FY 06/07. Three remain under investigation

Eighteen complaints have been filed in FY 07/08. Nine remain under investigation

Eight complaints have been filed in FY 08/09. Seven remain under investigation.

BOARD MEMBERS AND

MFT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

 
Gloria Bockrath, PhD, LPC, LMFT
Chair
 

June Williams, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT
Vice Chair
 
Roxane Dufrene,Ph.D., LPC, LMFT
Board Member
 
Anthony Williams, MA, LPC, LMFT
Secretary
 
Anna Cole, MS, LMFT
Board Member
MFT Advisory Committee Chair
 
Tom Moore, MA, LPC, LMFT
Board Member
MFT Advisory Committee Secretary
 
Lynn Pearlmutter, Ph.D., LCSW, LMFT
Board Member
MFT Advisory Committee Vice Chair
 

Charles A. Gagnon, M.Ed., LPC, LMFT
Board Member
 
Laura H Choate, Ed.D., LPC, NCC
Board Member
 

2009 Board Meeting Dates

January 23

February 20

March 13

April 17

May 15

June 19

July 17

August 21

September` 18

October 16

November 20

December 11