DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES FROM TRAINEE TO LICENSURE

by: Maureen Houtz, LMFT

After grad school, there is a scramble for placements. Many students don’t feel equipped to truly discern what kind of associateship they need, nor do they know what to look for in a supervisor. Can you discern the value of the placement based on the quality of supervision? I would hope so.

For me, the road to licensure was rocky. This was before email, text, the Internet or cell phones. There were not any apps to help track your hours. I actually had to mail the ream of originals to the BBS in Sacramento and rely on the USPS to get it there. It’s a wonder, huh? I relied on in-person supervision, often not terribly helpful. We had a pager system for emergencies and a payphone as the lifeline. In my journey to licensure and obtaining 6 signatures for signing off on hours,* I only recall two supervisors who mentored me. Although I did learn from all the supervisors, some reinforced my tendency to be quiet, not share my struggles and figure it out myself. Not good!

Can you share your struggles? Can you question the effectiveness of the intervention? Can you ask the supervisor to be more understanding? Can you be real with the supervisor?

Although most of us would say that the 3,000 hour process was/is grueling, I think it’s absolutely necessary. My hope is that each student will be comfortable sharing their struggles and mistakes in supervision. Supervision is the umbrella you need as you learn. The most effective supervisor is a therapist, a manager, a protector, an encourager, a person who will allow the student to develop into the therapist they are meant to be. I believe the supervisor is not unlike a good parent. As the student gains competence the supervisor needs to guide less and less.

None of us are so smart in isolation. And once the license is bestowed, have you learned to seek consultation? And a plug about consultation. The most competent therapists have questions, concerns, and ethical dilemmas. It behooves us to seek consultation from another trusted professional.

I have often thought the grad school process was a bit upside down. Our heads are filled with theory and ethics. For two years we are armed and ready, we get out in the world to discover we cannot implement these tools until we can sit with the clients. We have to be with them. They aren’t ready for our wisdom yet.

One of the most important aspects of supervision is teaching students how to be with the client.
In my many years as an intern/associate and as a licensed therapist who is a certified supervisor I can tell you that you will be changed. I remember telling my students many years back how their M.A program would change them as people, I am not sure they believed me. I think they would agree now.

*I waited until my 3000 hours were complete to find the supervisors and get signatures. I don’t recommend this as a practice. The current law requires the weekly log to be signed weekly. Experience Verifications can be signed at the end of gaining hours at a particular site. Keep in mind that you may risk losing the hours if your supervisor is not available to sign your hours log.

Understanding these five stages will help students and supervisors anticipate challenges and develop responses that are suited to the situation. Professional growth is lifelong. This model helps students, trainees and associates, engage in self evaluation; an ongoing process for the field of marriage and family therapy.

Stage One: Anticipation
We can all recall our excitement as we began the journey toward becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist.

• Maybe our expectations were not realistic?
• Maybe we didn’t know what we didn’t know?
• Maybe we were not informed as to how this work would impact us?
• Perhaps we thought “yes” was the answer to all requests while pursuing this work?

Response:

• Set clear goals for oneself.
• Gain clarity on the goals set forth in your academic program or your work site.
• Gain as much knowledge as possible.
• Ask questions.

Stage Two: Disillusionment

• Wow, this is a lot!
• It’s hard work.
• There’s so much information to assimilate, so much self examination, so many conflicting emotions.
• Can I do this?
• I don’t know what I am doing.
• This isn’t what I thought it would be.

Response:

• Normalize feelings, clarify feelings, recognize the gap between expectations and reality
• Let yourself be new.
• You cannot expect to know all there is to know.

Stage Three: Confrontation

• Perhaps I can do this.
• I like the work a lot of the time.
• I am gaining confidence.
• I think I can be useful.
• Oh no, my client's story is my story.

Response:

• Reassess your goals and expectations.
• Reassess your support systems.
• Seek therapy for yourself if your issues are in your way of becoming an effective therapist in training.

Stage Four: Competence

• I am feeling accomplished.
• I am noticing I am less fearful.
• I am noticing I have different questions now.
• The ethical questions are most urgent.

Response

• Share your concerns openly.
• Develop coping strategies.
• Determine if your current supervisor is suitable to you.

Stage Five: Culmination

• My hours are complete and I am waiting on the BBS
• I am feeling competent and seeing my own growth.
• Collegiality has developed.
• I am feeling better informed.
• I am determining if this field is for me.

Response

• Identify your feelings and recognize unfinished business

The developmental stages of an Registered Associateship adapted from H. Frederick Schweitzer and Mary A King Sweitzer, HF & Kind, M.A. (2008) The Successful Registered Associateship: Personal, Professional, and Civic Development. Brooks/Cole.

Maureen Houtz, LMFT, brings many years of experience to the Pre-Licensed committee. Since her licensure in 1986, Maureen has taught at the university level, supervised Associates, worked as a subject matter expert for the BBS, mentored other LMFTs, and directed a counseling center. Currently, Maureen lives and works in Long Beach and is serving her second term on the CAMFT Board of Directors as one of the Clinical Directors-at-Large. Maureen is also running for the President of CAMFT’s Board of Directors.

Return to e-newsletter home page