The Arizona Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Supporting Arizona’s Marriage and Family Therapists

Caring for Arizona’s Families

A Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

SUPERVISION

Supervision is a critical component of the licensure process for Licensed Associate MFTs. All LAMFTs are required by the BBHE to receive ongoing supervision while seeing clients. LAMFTs must accrue at least 200 hours of supervision, at least 100 of which must be individual hours (i.e., meet one-on-one with supervisor); no more than 100 hours can be group supervision, which consists of 2-8 supervisees meeting with one supervisor at the same time.

There are two types of supervisors with whom an LAMFT must work: a direct supervisor and a clinical supervisor.

A direct supervisor is basically the supervisee’s employer - this person represents the Behavioral Health Entity (agency or private practice) and has complete control of the candidate’s case load including records and all other Entity employee compliance protocols. A direct supervisor can terminate the LAMFT for failure to perform based on the employer-employee contractual agreement for the internship. This person does not have to be an LMFT.

A clinical supervisor is responsible for overseeing the LAMFT’s case load and providing educational training in best practices as it relates to the LAMFT’s client case load. All clinical supervisors must be trained in practices of supervision as prescribed by the BBHE and must be a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  Another licensed behavioral health professional may do clinical supervision for an LMFT candidate, but must have equivalent training to that of an MFT as approved by the BBHE MFT Credentialing Committee (see Supervisor Exemption Request form).

Finding a Clinical Supervisor

It is the supervisee’s responsibility to locate and contract with a clinical supervisor. In Arizona, you may hire an AAMFT-approved supervisor or a clinical supervisor who has taken a generic 12-hour supervision course and who continues to receive 6 “refresher” credits every two years - some clinical supervisors fulfill both of these requirements.  You may find a list of clinical supervisors in Arizona by visiting our list of supervisors or by visiting the AAMFT website to browse the AAMFT-approved supervisors in your area (please note, our list of supervisors includes both AAMFT approved supervisors and supervisors who have taken the 12-hour course; the AAMFT list will not include AZ supervisors who have taken the 12-hour course and are qualified to supervise LAMFTs).

Contracting with a Supervisor

The BBHE requires all LAMFTs (aka supervisees) to coordinate a contract between their direct supervisor and clinical supervisor. You may use this generic MFT Supervision Contract.docx or create one that better suits your needs - be sure to fill in the appropriate names where the generic contract reads “Supervisee,” “Clinical Supervisor,” and “Agency.” Either the supervisee or the agency (aka direct supervisor) can pay the clinical supervisor - that decision can be made between the three parties involved.

Supervision Requirements

Click here to review the BBHE’s supervision requirements. Please note that supervision must follow these four guidelines:

1. 1) A contract between the supervisee, clinical supervisor, and direct supervisor must be signed by all three parties and notarized at the onset of supervision.
   
   

2. 2) Clinical supervisors must document the content discussed in each supervision session and both the clinical supervisor and supervisee must sign these notes at the end of each session.
   
   

3. 3) LAMFTs must carry their own malpractice insurance, in addition to any malpractice insurance their clinical supervisor carries.
   
   

4. 4) Supervisees must accrue at least 200 hours of supervision in no less than two years. At least 100 of these hours must be individual supervision hours, in which the supervisee and clinical supervisor meet one-on-one; no more than 100 hours can be group supervision, in which 2-8 supervisees meet with the clinical supervisor at the same time. Also, at least 10 hours must be audio and/or live supervision.
   
   

Becoming a Clinical Supervisor

Licensed MFTs have the option of becoming a clinical supervisor in the state of Arizona and/or becoming an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. To become a qualified clinical supervisor in Arizona, LMFTs must take a 12-hour generic supervision course and then take a 6-hour “refresher” course every two years. The 12-hour generic course is offered in several ways:

1. 1) National Association of Social Workers (NASW): offers a 12-hour DVD package that comes with a workbook, articles, and test to complete for certification, $255 + tax if purchased by an NASW member)
   
   

2. 2) Magellan of Arizona: offers in-person course throughout the year
   
   

3. 3) AzAMFT: offers in-person course periodically
   
   

4. 4) Arizona Counselors Association: offers in-person course periodically
   

To become an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, you must meet the requirements as set forth by AAMFT. Click here for more information.

Looking for a supervisor? Click here.

Still have questions about supervision? Contact Alan Asher.