Tammy Pawlak is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Supervisor Delegate and provides supervision to practicum and intern students and supervisees pursuing licensure.
AAMFT Clinical Supervisors play a crucial role in guiding and overseeing the professional development of aspiring LMFTs. They provide mentorship, clinical supervision, and educational support to supervisees pursuing licensure. Supervisors help supervisees gain practical experience, refine therapeutic skills, adhere to ethical standards, and navigate complex client cases. They ensure that supervisees meet state licensure requirements and are equipped to provide effective therapy to individuals, couples, and families. Ultimately, LMFT Supervisors in Tennessee contribute significantly to the growth and competence of future LMFT professionals in the state.
What is Clinical Supervision?
According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), clinical MFT supervision is the process of evaluating, training, and providing oversight to trainees using relational or systemic approaches for the purpose of helping them attain systemic clinical skills. Supervision is provided to MFT or MFT trainees through in-person and technology-assisted means allowed through the AAMFT Approved Supervision Designation: Standards Handbook.
As an AAMFT trained clinical supervisor, my goal is to set the professional precedents of systemic therapy while nurturing a collaborative learning environment for MFT trainees.
Upon agreement to begin the supervisor/trainee relationship, the trainee will be provided the AAMFT code of ethics, an outline of systemic theories, a supervision contract, and prepare trainees for taking and passing the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board’s (AMFTRB) Examination.What is the requirement for hours?
Tennessee has one MFT license, Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT). There is also a temporary license for applicants completing their requirements.
Completion of the requirements for the temporary license.
Once deemed eligible by the Board, pass a written and oral exam prescribed by the Board.
Includes a jurisprudence exam.
Completion of two years of post-degree clinical experience as an MFT.
A minimum of 1,000 hours of clinical practice.
200 hours must be directly supervised by a Board-approved supervisor.
How often does Clinical Supervision occur?
Supervisory review must be conducted for at least 4 hours per month (1 hour weekly) with at least 1 hour of review being on an individual basis. Supervision may also be conducted in a group setting as long as 50% of the group supervision includes individual contact in which active functions and records of the limited licensee are reviewed.
Cost of supervision?
Currently in Tennessee, there are no set fees for licensure supervision services. For limited licensees contracting out supervision services, all fees should be negotiated with the LMFT and written in to the supervision contract.
Location of supervision?
Supervision services are based at Blooming Minds Counseling at 1714 Smithville Hwy. in McMinnville, TN 37110. Telehealth supervision is also an option.
Does my supervisor have to be on site?
No. Supervision can be held in any location, but client confidentiality must be ensured.