[Mike_J]

Was a bit surprised in talking to my therapist to find out that all therapist with Master’s Degree or less (unsure if you can be a real therapist with less training than that) have to be supervised by a Psychologist with a PhD. And have their work reviewed and their treatment plan approved by their supervisor.

Can anyone shed some light on this, is this true?

[WikidPissah]

??? Yikes. I seriously don't think so. I think my T would have told me if he was in supervision with anyone.

I think it's this: In order to become an LCSW, you typically need to work in a supervised position for approximately 3000 hours, or about two years of professional employment.

[critterlady]

I don't believe that's true for their entire career. All therapists, regardless of education level, have to have supervision in order to be licensed. Many therapists continue to have supervision beyond that, to help them keep perspective on how they're treating their clients. But I don't know of any state where that's mandatory beyond the initial training period.

[regretful]

It depends on the state that you are in, the licenseing board of that state, and the profession of your therapist (Psychologist, Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor, MFCC, LMT). You can very easily check this by searching your state's licensing and/or credentialing information for the professional board that represents your therapist.

[dolphingirl]

During their training before they receive their Master's degree they have to be certified by a therapist who is licensed and has at least a Master's degree. After they receive their degree, they have to be supervised again by someone who is licensed with a Master's degree or higher until they accumulated enough hours to apply to be licensed. Once they are licensed, they no longer need to be supervised at all, even if they only have a Master's degree.

[Mike_J]

I'm not concerned with my therapist she is AWESOME and has a PhD, but I'm worried about the situation that my daughter is in, my soon to be ex-wife went behind my back and against my wishes and arranged to have our daughter see a therapist at the same office as her therapist. Finding out that they both are likely being supervised by the same person is more than a bit troubling. Bad enough the work in the same office.

[dolphingirl]

Unless those two therapists aren't licensed yet, they probably won't be supervised by the same person in the context me and other post are referring to. Even if they were both unlicensed, there probably wouldn't be a way that the supervisor would give one details from the other. The two might have the same director at the clinic though. Sometimes in a clinic therapists might consult with each other, but can't use identifying information. Are you worried about your wife finding out details that your daughter's therapist?

[Perna]

Might be true for whatever agency/state/whatever location you are in but is not universally true.

[Mike_J]

I'm my wife's therapist is clearly on my wife's side (just like my therapist is in my corner) I'm worried there is at least the potential of there being a bias for my wife, and against me at that clinic. And if everything is on the "up and up" then why was this done behind my back, and I only find out by accident, if there is nothing to hide why was thins being hidden from me? My wife first proposed sending my daughter to see HER therapist, I said NO WAY, then she sneaks and sends her to another therapist at the same clinic?

Just seems fishy...

[likelife]

I think in a lot of states, if the child is a minor, he/she needs the consent of both parents to participate in therapy.

[InTherapy]

I'm studying for my Bachelor's in Psychology right now. This is what I was taught in my Careers in Psych class: (In the state of Missouri in the USA)

IF YOU WANT TO BE A COUNSELOR/THERAPIST:

-And you receive your masters in social work or counseling, you DO NOT need to be supervised once you're through with school and have passed the exams.

-And you recieve your masters in psychology then you WILL need to be supervised to have patients.

Getting a master's degree in psychology is really for people who either want to do research OR who get it on the way to their doctorate. If you're not interested in doing research or you want to be a therapist without getting your doctorate, then social work or counseling is the way to go.

[Yoda]

I don't know if it is a state law or what but my T has her master's degree and she practices unsupervised but she would have to be supervised by MD/DO/PhD to be able to bill medicare/medicaid.

[WikidPissah]

ah yes...when medicare/caid becomes involved therapy becomes a series of jumping thru hoops. Unfortunate.

Mike, if one of my children needed T, I would definitely get a referral from my t for them. It seems logical that your wife would pick someone in the same collaborative. I wouldn't think it common practice for a t to influence a child on which parent is right. I think it would be more like "you can love both parents".

One word of advice though...my h's ex wife is horrid and his daughter paid for that. She is 33 now, and you know what she loves most about her dad? That he has never said an unkind thing about her mother in front of her. Oh, he's vented about her plenty, to me, to friends etc (with good reason)...but never in front of her.

[Sannah]

In KY all Psychologists with MS have to be supervised by a PhD. Masters level Social Workers without an LCSW have to be supervised by an LCSW. Psychology PhD's and LCSW's don't need to be supervised.

I can see your concern Mike. An independent therapist from either of you would be better.