California Supervisor Qualifications & Responsibilities (Jan 2019)
The following information was posted by the BBS here.
The Board now has the authority to audit supervisors to ensure they meet the qualifications to supervise. All supervisors must keep records of his or her qualifications for 7 years from the termination of supervision to prove they meet the qualifications in case of an audit. If you are a supervisor, please ensure that you meet the requirements to supervise and that you save your materials to document compliance. Additional information about the audits will be available in the Board’s upcoming newsletter, to be released in January.
A supervisor must meet all the following requirements; some of which have been changed by AB 93:
Held an active license for at least 2 years of the 5-year period immediately preceding any supervision as an LPCC, LMFT, licensed psychologist, LCSW, a licensed physician and surgeon certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, or an equivalent out-of-state license;
For at least 2 of the past 5 years immediately preceding supervision, the supervisor has practiced psychotherapy or provided direct clinical supervision of psychotherapy performed by marriage and family therapist trainees, associate marriage and family therapists (AMFTs), associate professional clinical counselors (APCCs), or associate clinical social workers (ASWs). Supervision of psychotherapy performed by social work interns (students) or professional clinical counselor trainees is also acceptable if the supervision is substantially equivalent to the supervision required for board registrants;
Has and maintains a current, active California license that is not under suspension or probation, as an LMFT, LPCC, LCSW, a licensed psychologist, or a physician and surgeon certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology;
Has received supervision training as required by the board;
If the supervisor is an LPCC who is supervising an AMFT, MFT trainee, or LPCC licensee or registrant seeking experience to treat couples and families, he or she must meet the requirements to treat couples and families specified in BPC §4999.20;
Has not provided therapeutic services to the supervisee;
Is not a spouse, domestic partner, or relative of the supervisee; and
Does not have or has not had a personal, professional, or business relationship with the supervisee that undermines the authority or effectiveness of the supervision.
Specifies certain actions that are a supervisor’s responsibility (this is not an all-inclusive list):
Ensuring the extent, kind, and quality of counseling performed is consistent with the education, training, and experience of the supervisee.
Monitoring and evaluating the supervisee’s assessment, diagnosis, and treatment decisions and providing regular feedback.
Monitoring and evaluating the supervisee’s ability to provide services at the site or sites where he or she is practicing and to the particular clientele being served.
Monitoring and addressing clinical dynamics, including, but not limited to, countertransference, intrapsychic, interpersonal, or trauma related issues that may affect the supervisory or practitioner-patient relationship.
Ensuring the supervisee’s compliance with laws and regulations governing the practice of marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, or professional clinical counseling.
Reviewing the supervisee’s progress notes, process notes, and other patient treatment records, as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.
With the client’s written consent, providing direct observation or review of audio or video recordings of the supervisee’s counseling or therapy, as deemed appropriate by the supervisor.
Group supervisors are required to ensure that the amount and degree of supervision is appropriate for each supervisee.
Permits a supervisor of individuals pursuing LCSW or LPCC licensure to arrange for alternative supervision during his or her vacation or sick leave if in compliance with the law’s supervision requirements. (This provision was already specified in the law for supervisors of those pursing LMFT licensure.)
If a setting is not a private practice, and if the supervisor is not employed by the supervisee’s employer or is a volunteer, the supervisee’s employer and supervisor must sign a written oversight agreement as specified in regulation.
