Supervision for clinical licensure for LCPCs and LCSWs
Who needs supervision?
We believe that all counselors and psychotherapists, regardless of their experience, need supervision. It is required by the American Counseling Association as well as ethical guidelines for counselors. Clinical supervisors support their counselors by being fair and providing feedback regarding their performance with their clients. Supervisors also provide teaching and consultation regarding best practices when working with clients.
Why is professional supervision needed?
We believe that supervision is needed for the following reasons:
1. Protection of rights and provision of needs on the part of the client, and
2. Improvement on the part of the counselor in providing effective and ethical treatments.
Professional supervision protects the client by involving a third party and reducing the risk of serious maltreatment. It allows therapists to reflect on their own feelings, thoughts, and behaviors regarding their clients. It also helps therapists to explore opportunities for improving their professional relationships with their clients, as well as gathering insights on implementing particular techniques and strategies to most efficiently proceed with treatment.
Why do I have to pay for professional supervision?
We are required by Illinois licensure laws to obtain training and continuing education in clinical supervision. If we decide to accept you as a supervisee, we are legally and ethically responsible for your every clinical decision and action, which is something we take seriously. We will be available to you 24 hours a day in case of emergencies.
What are the guidelines for LCPC license supervision in IL?
According to Section 1375, Title 68 of the Illinois General Assembly’s Administrative Code, expectations are in place for both LPC experience and supervisory conduct.
LPC experience:
· All post-counseling master’s degree experience will be counted. Volunteer experience can be counted if you have an LPC license during the volunteer experience.
· The start date is determined by when you complete all coursework, including internships—not the date the degree is conferred.
· You must earn the experience in no less than two years. There is no upper limit in terms of years taken to acquire hours.
· You can earn the experience at any number of locations.
· One year of experience shall be a maximum of 1680 clock hours obtained in not less than 48 weeks, including 960 clock hours of direct face-to-face service to clients. Part-time experience will be counted toward the experience requirement.
Clinical Supervision:
· The supervisor shall will meet with the applicant for at least one hour each week. These meetings must entail the review of counseling and case management.
· Supervision needs to be live.
· A qualified supervisor may be provided at the applicant's place of work or may be hired by the applicant to provide supervision.
You can find more information here:
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068013750B01300R.html
How many hours of supervision do I need to earn towards my LCSW?
If you have a master’s degree, total experience required:
· 3,360 hours of clinical experience total
· 1,920 hours of face to face clinical services
How many hours per week do I need to work to earn my supervision hours?
If you are working full time, you are required to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and no more than 40 hours per week. The part-time work requirement is a minimum of 15 hours per week and no more than 29 hours per week. Qualifying volunteer work also counts towards supervision.