LCSW Supervision in Texas

Keli Hemingway, LCSW-S, offers clinical supervision & professional development for LMSWs who want to become LCSWs.  If you are an LMSW who wishes to grow and evolve as a person and a professional therapist, then I can help you.  I’ve been a therapist for about thirty years and am committed to assisting motivated LMSWs to become highly competent psychotherapists or licensed clinical social workers in Texas. 

What is clinical supervision?

Supervision entails a professional association between a supervisor and a supervisee, whose primary focus is fostering competence, professional conduct, and adherence to ethical principles. The supervisor's role includes guiding the supervisee in applying social work theory, standardized knowledge, skills, competencies, and relevant ethical principles within their professional practice. Effective supervisors teach, observe, consult, mentor, coach, evaluate, inspire, and create an atmosphere that promotes self-motivation, learning, and professional development.

Keli believes that a professional clinical supervisor who has been trained in supervision should help the supervisee grow as a professional by:

  • Making sure the client is safe

  • Encouraging the supervisee to follow legal, ethical, and professional standards

  • Teaching therapeutic skills

  • Giving regular feedback and evaluations

  • Offering LMSWs insight into their work experiences and clinical interventions

  • Encouraging open dialogue between the supervisor and supervisee.  

Keli also thinks a supervisee has the right to work with a supervisor sensitive to cultural differences and who can talk freely and openly about how race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and class affect clinical work and supervision.  There are no taboo topics when you work with Keli as a supervisee.  There are no such things as foolish questions.  Keli provides an open forum for you to be who you are and grow personally and professionally. 

I’m committed to your learning, growing, and evolving

As your supervisor, I aim to cultivate aspiring clinicians to increase their understanding of clinical practice and social work theory and augment their personal and professional development capacity.  I emphasize developing LCSWs in training to possess cultural competence, theoretical proficiency, empathy, and critical thinking skills. 

What will I learn in clinical supervision?

You’ll talk about your cases or ethical issues you face at work and get feedback from me or other group members. You’ll learn about countertransference and transference.  You’ll also learn about the DSM-V, different kinds of therapy, medications, and how to "think" for the LCSW exam. I love being a therapist, and I want my supervisees to grow as clinicians and also be able to pass the LCSW exam.  Many of our clients are impacted by macro problems, and it's essential to bring macro and mezzo issues into clinical discussions. 

In a nutshell, you’ll learn about anything you want to learn about that has to do with clinical practice and being a highly effective licensed clinical social worker and therapist and other topics including but not limited to the following:

  • Information about the family's structure, relationships, past mental health or addiction problems, mental health treatment, and medical history.

  • Presenting problem or concern: How the client describes their problem, what they hope to get out of it, what risks are involved, and if they use drugs.

  • DSM-5 Diagnosis: Past and present diagnoses and differentiating between them.

  • Multicultural considerations: Demographic information, variety or cultural considerations for the case, and important cultural factors that affect treatment or mental health.

  • Thoughts about systems or development: List any models or ideas about systems or development that are important to your case.

  • Counseling theory: the theories or methods used in clinical social work practice and the studies that back them up.

  • Treatment plans: How to create an effective treatment plan and the how and why of using SMART goals.

  • Effective clinical documentation that will satisfy employers and insurance companies.

  • Ethical considerations: Any current or possible ethical problems or conflicts with your cases.

  • Interpersonal Conflicts that arise in your clinical work.

Group and Individual supervision & consultation

In-person Austin and online throughout Texas

Keli strongly believes that supervisees benefit more from the group than individual supervision.  When you work in a group format, you can learn from others.  You can receive feedback from other group members who may work in different fields. You’ll have a chance to learn many new skills.  If you prefer occasional individual consultation or clinical supervision, please ask Keli. If you prefer in-person individual or group supervision in NW Austin, don't hesitate to contact Keli.  

How do I know if my job qualifies as a clinical social work position?

This is a question I am frequently asked. The board has concluded that you are eligible for LCSW supervision if you assess, diagnose, and treat mental health or drug misuse concerns using DSM-V criteria for at least four hours per week. Don't be overly worried about a formal diagnosis. In many situations, clients or patients are often diagnosed by physicians, psychiatrists, or independently licensed mental health specialists. These criteria is met if you use a diagnostic skill set and/or screening tools when working with clients or patients.

Many supervisees work in various settings that meet clinical standards for the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.  Some include social workers in outpatient programs, the VA, CPS, behavioral health hospitals, medical hospitals, hospices, home health, schools, dialysis clinics, military bases, non-profits, insurance companies, EAP programs, private practices, and prisons or youth detention centers.  You will certainly fulfill LCSW supervision criteria if you have individual therapy clients and use clinical skills.

What is the requirement in Texas for me to become an LCSW?

When an LMSW is in clinical supervision, the norm is to meet with their supervisor for 4 hours per month. In my program, most sessions are online using Zoom. You can live anywhere in Texas and participate in online clinical supervision for your LCSW, and most people participate in a two-hour group session twice per month. You must meet with your supervisor for 100 hours in 24 months. During this time, you must be employed and work at least 30 hours per week to be eligible to complete the supervision process in about 24 months. Three-thousand total work hours are also required before you can apply to sit for the licensing exam.

What are the steps I take if I would like supervision?

You can email keli@clearminds-tx.com or call or text 512-783-4332.  You can also skip the call and email and schedule a complimentary 15-minute video consultation so we can be sure we’ll be a good fit.

Fees for LCSW Supervision:

Groups:

We meet twice per month for two hours each session, and it costs $395 for a total of four hours per month.

Individuals:

LMSW Supervision or Professional Consultation is $175 per hour.