Moving to become a licensed clinical social worker

Therapy is both an art and a science. While it’s possible to learn the basic scientific principles in school, the art of therapy can prove challenging. How will you deal with a client who can’t stop crying? What will you do if a client never speaks or only seems interested in talking about you? How can you measure progress in therapy? How can you prevent your own biases and emotions from intruding upon the therapeutic process? These are difficult questions with complex answers. Clinical supervision prepares you to tackle these and many other issues. 

Therapists have an ethical duty to protect their clients’ best interests and provide quality therapy. Doing so can prove difficult when you’re learning. Clinical supervision allows you to learn by doing, without risking harm to your clients or treating them as guinea pigs. 

Supervision offers ongoing feedback from someone with more experience and skill. Rather than relying on vague principles from a textbook or classroom, you’ll get rapid feedback on real-world therapy dilemmas. Your supervisor can also provide insight into your personal style and guidance on how to sharpen your skills as well as how to adapt your style to the complex needs of diverse clients. 

 A 2013 study found that counselors rated their supervisor’s mentorship, not their education or training, as the most important factor in job performance. Working with someone who is willing to actively mentor you may offer the most value.  

 Supervision has been subdivided into three main areas: managerial/administrative, educational and supportive and it has been acknowledged that these three areas should overlap and that supervision needs to be flexible to meet the needs of the service and the individual. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Supervision

• How often will we meet? Clinical supervision for either individual or group settings is once a week for 60-minutes via online through a HIPAA secured Zoom platform. 

• How many hours of clinical supervision am I required to have?  In Indiana,  you will need to gain at least two (2) years (3000 hours) of paid full-time social work experience, before applying for your LCSW license.
  • Part-time experience may be considered by the Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board.
  • Under no circumstances can the experience be acquired in under twenty-four (24) months.
  • Qualifying experience must be providing clinical social work services, including assessment and evaluation of clients, in which at least 50% of this time is providing service directly to clients. Applicants must also submit proof of at least four (4) hours of face-to-face supervision each month during the two-year period provided by a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). 
  • For all other states, please ensure you check with your licensing board on your requirements for both licensure and supervision hours. They may require your supervisor be from your state of record.

• What should I bring to clinical supervision meetings? Bring specific questions and topics to your meeting that you want to discuss. 

• What is one of the biggest challenges faced in clinical supervision? Learning to take constructive criticism and critical feedback.  Do your best not to be defensive when your supervisor gives you feedback. Feedback is the most valuable aspect of clinical supervision and one of the only ways you can grow as a therapist.