Looking for an Ethical, Experienced Supervisor to Guide You in the Counseling Field?

A. Consider choosing R. Keith Franklin, PhD, LPC-S, ACS

1. Dr. Franklin brings over two decades of counseling experience in a variety of settings and as a professional counselor educator.
2. He runs a group practice for LPC Associates (eligible) to attain clinical experience. Associates are not employees, but would work under his supervision. He would supervise for four hours per month, in accordance with Texas Administrative Code guidance. He consults with associates regarding marketing, networking, and referrals, but associates share a collaborative responsibility for these items.
3. Whenever possible, he issues site and client surveys for feedback where the associateship is taking place.
4. When possible, he reviews the associates’ case notes to improve documentation and to monitor ethical compliance.
5. He is dedicated to providing associates with real-world counseling advice on topics such as dealing with subpoenas, possible ethical and legal issues that may arise in practice, issues to consider when practicing in inpatient settings, private practice, and for-profits/non-profits; how to conduct thorough initial evaluations; the diagnostic cautions associated with certain conditions; how to become insurance providers; how to complete insurance paperwork; and how to network and market themselves as counselors.
6. He supervises from both clinical and educational perspectives, using a variety of theories, including cognitive-behavioral and family systems. He sees supervision as a collaborative effort, and associates are treated as post-graduate professionals.
7. His flat supervision fee includes four supervisions per month. There is no fee for the initial meeting, and associates do not begin paying the supervision fee until they have received their license.

LPC Supervision Interest Link (click here) 

B. What we are looking for in LPC associates

1. Individuals with an ethical and moral foundation
2. Associates who accept responsibility, respect the supervisor-supervisee relationship, are organized, manage time effectively, and follow through with recommendations, referrals, and documentation corrections
3. A willingness to learn and to ask questions
4. A dedication to the counseling profession and a desire for professional growth
5. Associates who are willing to commit to at least 6 months of supervision
6. Associates who are not looking for someone who simply signs off hours, but who are committed to becoming the best counselors they can be — individuals who are open to challenges and value meaningful supervision. We look for those who understand that not all supervision experiences are created equally, and that just because something is free doesn't mean it will support their full potential
7. Associates who want to be well-rounded and able to practice in a variety of settings once licensed
8. Associates who have completed a Master’s degree or higher from a CACREP-accredited university

C. Location for supervision

Telesupervision (requiring a stable video internet connection)

D. Steps to Becoming an LPC Associate in the State of Texas

1. A CACREP Master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a counseling-related program. Note: Electronic transcripts should be emailed to: [email protected] 
2. Successful completion of the National Counselor Exam (NCE) scores and confirmed with NBCC that scores have successfully been sent to BHEC.
3. Completed the Texas Jurisprudence Exam. 
4. National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report – Please request a self-query from the NPDB. This will be mailed to you by the NPDB. You will need to mail us the unopened self-query. Information on NPDB self-query is found here.
5. A completed Practicum Documentation Form – This form is completed by the appropriate faculty/administration member of your counseling program and returned to you for inclusion in your application.
6. An interview with us as potential supervisors and a contract setting out the terms of supervision will be completed.
7. Signed Supervisory Agreement Form.
8. All documentation is prepared and uploaded at the Online Application portal.

NOTE: Medicare recognizes Licensed Professional Counselors or Certified Professional Counselors to provide clinical services ONLY incident to; therefore, an LPC Associate who applies for the Nationally Certified Counselor can also provide said services under the additional supervision of a physician, nurse practitioner, clinical psychologist, or physician assistant. More can be discussed in supervision.

E. Options for Supervision:

1. Work with us as offsite supervisors — ask us about the numerous benefits of off-site supervision and the many lessons learned from other interns who had unfortunate experiences with supervisors with little experience in hospitals, non-profits, and the private sector. We charge less than many other supervisors and do not require associates to do research for us or spend a minimum number of hours doing office work.

 OR

1. We also have private office AND hospital affiliations/connections for LPC Associates (eligible) to attain clinical experience. Associates would be on a contract basis and not employees of ours. We would be their supervisors; we would meet bi-weekly for individual supervision and/or group supervision. There are options to provide a minimum amount of clinical availability in order to cover supervision at no cost; moreover, in the private sector, associates may be eligible to start earning a percentage of their client fees. We assist with marketing, networking, and referrals — but associates are also responsible for these things.

Off-site Supervision ASSOCIATE positions are at the responsibility of the individual clinician and NOT the LPC Supervisor.

“We operate a group practice that LPC Associates receiving supervision via CCOSA will have the ability to operate on an employee contract basis. Additionally, we have connections and knowledge of hospital affiliations for LPC Associates (eligible) to attain clinical experience. During supervision, marketing and referrals discussion in healthcare is shared, but the responsibility does resolve with the clinician in the end.”

F (Optional):  Military Healthcare Systems Supervisor Requirement

AMHCA Supervision Standards Incorporated

The Military Healthcare System [Tricare] “Certified Mental Health Counselors” (TCMHCs) must have a minimum of two (2) years of post-master’s degree supervised mental health counseling practice, which includes a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical practice and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. Required supervision must be provided by a mental health counselor who is licensed for independent practice in mental health counseling in the jurisdiction where practicing and must be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the guidelines for supervision of the “American Mental Health Counselors Association.”

AMHCA Supervisor Requirements:

The clinical supervisor is recommended to have completed the equivalent of 15 semester hours of coursework at the doctoral level in the clinical mental health specialty area or a comparable amount of scholarship in this area.

New Provider Participation Standard:

• Master’s degree in counseling - Counseling services - Referral and physician oversight not required (TCMHC)
• Master’s degree in counseling - Counseling services - A referral from medical doctor and physician oversight is required (SMHC)

Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) or the National Counselor Examination (NCE). NCE must have been passed prior to January 1, 2017.  (Rev:  2/13/17)

Two (2) years post-master’s supervised Mental Health Counseling practice that includes three thousand (3,000) hours of supervised clinical practice and one hundred (100) hours of face-to-face supervision.

The rules also permit TRICARE to amend or modify its requirements, qualifications, or criteria in the future to accommodate professional quality and licensing standards changes over time.

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Looking for a Clinical Supervisor:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/supervision-services