You have spent years in graduate school, hours of studying, and have passed all your exams. Now you are ready to step out of the student role and into a counseling professional role in the community. Just one thing. In the state of Texas, to get your LPC-Intern license you need a LPC-Supervisor who will supervise your 3000 clinical hours needed to get a LPC license.
I’ve been there, I graduated from a graduate program in Ohio and moved to Houston, Texas and learned of this process. I remember feeling totally lost and had no clue where to start. I was fortunate to have a great supervisor for my practicum hours during my graduate program so I knew what kind of supervisor I wanted to have in Texas.
This brings me to my first suggestion in findinga quality supervisor. Ask the professionals around you for supervisor recommendations. You can ask your professors if they know of any supervisor accepting interns, ask your fellow classmates, and connect with LPC-intern groups online to inquire about supervisors. Now that you are looking for a LPC-Supervisor what exactly should you be looking for? Below are some key areas that as a future LPC-Intern you should be looking for in your supervisor:
What should you as a LPC-Intern look for in a Supervisor?
Interview questions: Your first meeting is like an interview. This is a big decision and an investment in your career. You should be asking the LPC-S questions about their experiences, practices and expectations. You want to make sure they will be a good fit for you.
Theoretical Orientation: Are you CBT and they are Humanistic? Not every LPC-Intern will have a LPC-S who is the same theoretical orientation as them, so it’s a not a requirement. Having different theoretical orientations and the same theoretical orientation have pros and cons. In both situations, you can learn as a developing professional more about your theoretical orientation. Or new aspects about a different one. You do want to make sure the LPC-S does not want to focus on changing you to fit their theoretical orientation.
Clinical experience: You should be looking for a LPC-S who has experience that will help you in your clinical practice. Ask about the settings that have worked in as a counselor and the populations they have worked with. If you want to work in private practice with a very specific population and the LPC-S has limited experience and knowledge in that area you may want to really think about the fit as your LPC-S.
Cultural aspects: This is important because every person brings their culture in the room. You want a LCP-S who is comfortable talking about the cultural aspects of both your clients and of you. Whether you’re a gay black man working with the LGBTQ population or a white heterosexual woman working with a Latin population, you want someone who can process those cultural aspects and concerns with you.
We have a supervisor to fit your needs!
In summary, getting a LPC-Supervisor is essential to taking the next step in your counseling career. Making the right choice for a supervisor is just as important. Make sure you find the one that is the right fit for you and your career. If you are in the process of finding a supervisor, I highly recommend mine: Sydney Lucas. She is currently taking new interns. (Just a hint, she looks for you to ask questions, so start with some around the areas I mentioned above!) To set up an initial visit to see if you are a good match call the office at 832-421-8714 or email.
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