LMFT Supervision
Oklahoma State Approved LMFT Candidate Supervision
Fostering clinical introspection while promoting your professional development and identity.
Supervision: The Next Step on Your Journey to Licensure
Now that you have achieved the necessary milestones to get to this point, you’re ready for a supervisor! You’ve worked hard to get here and I’m excited for the opportunity to join you on the journey.
Clinical supervision plays a crucial part in developing your competence, skills, and confidence and is required by all future licensed mental health professionals. It’s an opportunity for you to review, apply, and process everything you learned in school while you’re in trenches.
If you need someone who
is passionate and enthusiastic about the practice of MFT
strives to create an atmosphere of safety and belonging
is supportive of hearing your feedback
wants to help you grow personally and professionally
prefers a collaborative and egalitarian relationship
will accept where you are and challenge you to do better
has had a variety of clinical experiences, including teaching MFT students at UCO
will encourage you to pursue the practice that works for you
is knowledgeable about many different clinical approaches (especially Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy)
…perhaps that person is me. My purpose is to guide your professional growth, knowledge development, professional skills, and self-awareness to provide ethical and effective care.
Two years is a long time to work together, so it’s important to determine if we’re a good fit. Reach out if you’d like to arrange a time to visit.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SUPERVISION WITH ME
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Reflective Observation
To help increase your knowledge, you may be assigned tasks such as reading clinical books and articles, watching therapy training videos, and evaluating your own abilities by reviewing your recorded therapy sessions with me. Additionally, reviewing feedback from clients and your on-site supervisor will be encouraged.
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Conceptualization
Conceptualization focuses on learning, teaching, and processing skills. This helps us learn when to use interventions and therapeutic tasks as opposed to how we use them.
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Experimentation
We all know that people typically learn better by doing. Together we might discuss therapeutic concepts, practice implementing them, role play specific situations, and more. You will also be encouraged to put these new skills into action with your clients.
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Experiential & Humanistic
You are a human with your own past and current experiences that will inevitably show up in the therapy (or supervision) room. It’s important to mindfully notice and recognize your experiences as they arise. Some of these experiences, especially clinician blocks, will be explored together in supervision and you might be referred for individual/couples/family therapy.
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Dialectical
Dialectical supervision helps synthesize two seemingly opposing thoughts, like how I previously mentioned that I aim to accept you where you are and challenge you to do better. Supervision is full of dialectical conundrums and we’re tasked with making sense of them together.
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Process-Oriented
I use principles from emotionally focused therapy and emotion-focused therapy and apply them to the supervision process. This allows us to focus on the process that occurs within yourself, between you and your clients, and between you and me.
Common questions I get from candidates
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No, I am not an AAMFT approved supervisor, although I heavily considered it a few years ago. While I have read AAMFT's book on supervision and find my personal supervision style to be closely aligned with their perspective, I have chosen to allocate my resources elsewhere at this time. If this is important to you, I'm happy to discuss my decision further.
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In an effort to make my services more accessible and equitable, I offer a Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) model. You know your situation better than I do and I believe you should be the one to determine what that looks like.
My Standard Rates: Supervision is $100.00 per person for a 90 minute session.
What can you reasonably afford each session?
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The state of Oklahoma requires approved supervisors complete at least two years of licensed practice, 45 hour training, and receive at least three hours of continuing education in the area of clinical supervision each year. I have completed these requirements and have been supervising LMFT candidates since 2018. I have supervised interns, practicum students, and LMFT candidates. My supervisee count fluctuates as people graduate to licensure at different times, but I average 3 candidates at a time and won't take on more than I can manage.
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Weekly, but the day and time varies. I typically stick to standing appointments, but I'm flexible.
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Ideally we would work together to find resolve; however, a neutral third party to act as a mediator would be the next step.
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It is imperative that you feel good about your supervisor. Supervisors should be accessible, responsive, engaged, and supportive while making you feel respected and confident that they have your best interests in mind. That being said, not everyone is a good fit and if we don't mesh, you have every right to find a new supervisor.
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Feedback, on my end, is typically woven into every conversation we have.
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Supervisor candidates are required to submit a paper describing their philosophy of supervision before receiving supervisor status. Here (link) is a copy of my paper.
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I have extensive training and experience in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Parent Management Training (PMT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), and mindfulness meditation.
My current clinical areas of practice and interest include: emotion dysregulation, relational distress, complex trauma/CPTSD, birth trauma, ADHD/Autism/neurodivergence (especially in women), parenting struggles, and religious trauma.
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I have worked in community mental health, group private practice, and private practice. I also teach future LMFTs as an adjunct faculty member.
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Families, parents/caregivers, children, adolescents, adults, and couples have worked with me over the years.
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Not necessarily, but I do make it a point to work with people who I feel align with my training. However, significant substance use, psychosis, and grief are a few struggles I don't often experience in my office.
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Yes, and I encourage this practice. It is important that you make the best decision and for you to feel confident doing so. Sometimes that means contacting me for a quick consult before moving forward.
“…[supervisors do] not treat a problem in the supervisee, nor [do they] attempt to access and transform core painful experiences, but, instead, [attempt] to facilitate a specific form of learning.”
Les Greenberg
(Greenberg & Tomescu, 2017)
What Candidates Are Saying
“As a supervisor Sam has challenged me to become a better therapist in many ways. She creates a supporting environment that encourages supervisees to feel confident when beginning practice. She has helped me learn and apply systems theory to treatment. She helped me prep for the licensing exam leading me to pass on my first attempt. I am very grateful for the help she has provided as a supervisor and would highly recommend her.”
“She offers a very supportive environment.”
“Her knowledge and theoretical flexibility along with kindness are her strongest points.”
“Samantha is resourceful and knowledgeable in her skills. Being a supervisor, she is supportive and compassionate when I feel lost. She keeps me accountable, allowing me to reexamine my beliefs, assumptions, and expectations. I appreciate her sense of humor and authenticity. Most importantly, I felt safe to come to her without judgment.”
“I appreciate our time together and your willingness to grow with me.”
“Her primary areas of competence are family systems, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.”
Resources for LMFT Candidates
Review my Guide Path for a comprehensive supervision game plan
This working document provides you with everything you need to know about getting licensed as a marital and family therapist in the state of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health and Licensing (BBHL)
The BBHL is the regulatory board for all LMFTs, LPCs, and LBPs, in Oklahoma. Here you will find links for making your application to become an LMFT, supervision agreements, continuing education, and much more.
The Association for Marriage and Family Therapist Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB)
AMFTRB produces the national exam and provides numerous resources to help you prepare for the exam.
Finding a Supervisor
Guide coming soon!
Take the next step.
If you’re interested in pursing supervision with me, give me a shout. I’d be happy to chat with you about your needs, interests, goals, and expectations for this new chapter in your career.