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CAMFT believes that better trained supervisors lead to better trained and qualified therapists, which results in improved patient care, and advances the field of marriage and family therapy. CAMFT also recognizes that although interrelated, supervision skills are different than clinical/treatment skills, and that knowledge and skills required for supervision and clinical treatment are different. CAMFT also recognizes that therapists who undertake the responsibility of supervising others owe those persons a duty to possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide competent supervision. In an effort to assist licensees to fulfill that duty, CAMFT has created the voluntary CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program.
CAMFT’s philosophy in setting criteria for certification is that standards be thorough, reasonable and relevant. Supervision, like therapy, is both an art and a science. The CAMFT Certified Supervisor designation will assist mental health professionals and those in training to find supervisors who have made a continuing commitment to quality supervision. This certification does not guarantee competency, nor should it be relied upon as a substitute for individual judgment in selecting a suitable and appropriate supervisor. It does demonstrate that the supervisor has made a commitment to enhancing the profession by meeting the criteria of the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program.
The CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program is offered as a voluntary program, intended to be unique to the needs of supervisors and supervisees within the State of California. Further, it permits those who enjoy supervising to fulfill part of their mandatory continuing education requirements by taking courses relevant to supervision.
The program is multifaceted and includes the components of coursework, supervision, supervision consultation, and the completion of a written case summary.
To be eligible to participate in the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program, the applicant shall:
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Supervision consultation will be required of all applicants and shall include at least 12 hours (or 24 hours if group) with no fewer than one hour per month of individual consultation, or two hours per month of group consultation gained during the months in which supervision is provided. While consultation via electronic means is permitted, face-to-face consultation is recommended.
Consultant must have been licensed for five years in California, have a license which is not under revocation, suspension or probation and have had sufficient experience and education/training/coursework in providing supervision. The supervisor is not to engage in any other professional/business relationship with the consultant during the time that he/she is undergoing consultation.
The applicant will inform CAMFT in the Initial Application the name of the proposed consultant, and the consultant will be asked to electronically sign the Verification of Completion form. A log of the consultation hours is to be submitted to CAMFT to verify completion.
Should you choose to change consultants during the certification process, please provide CAMFT with written notice of your intent to change.
Participants agree to gain the supervision experience in no fewer than 52 weeks, with not less than one hour per week for individual supervision or two hours per week of group supervision for each week in which supervision is provided. A log of the supervision hours is to be submitted to CAMFT to verify completion.
Coursework to meet the requirements for the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program can be taken from a CAMFT-sponsored workshop or conference, an accredited or approved school that offers a graduate degree program in the mental health field, or any other approved provider, as long as the coursework addresses the required educational content within the course(s) being taught (any person who is a teacher of the required coursework will be exempted from completing the content area(s) that he/she has taught). In order to satisfy the coursework requirement, coursework cannot have been completed more than three years from the date the Initial Application form is submitted to CAMFT.
Any accredited or approved school or any other approved provider who seeks approval of their education/training/coursework will be required to submit an application and payment of a non-refundable fee of $50 to have their coursework reviewed and considered for approval to meet the coursework component of the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program. This approval must be renewed every two years. The fee for renewal is $50.
The syllabi for this coursework must first be approved by CAMFT. The coursework is to contain no less than 18 contact hours of education/training/coursework and is to include, but not necessarily be limited to the content areas on the next page.
Participants are encouraged to complete the coursework early in the process of attaining the certification. Supervision and consultation completed prior to the commencement of the coursework will not be counted. Verification of the coursework is to be submitted with the Verification of Completion form.
Series Course 1: Practical Considerations of Supervision (Or Equivalent Coursework) 1) Practical Considerations of Supervision
2) Evaluations of supervisee and supervisor
3) The similarities and differences between a supervisor and a therapist
4) Supervisee Selection
5) The supervisory contract
6) Methods of supervision
Series Course 2: Deconstructing the Supervisory Relationship (Or Equivalent Course) 1) Developmental Model of Supervision
2) The Supervisee/Supervisor Relationship
3) Contextual Issues in Supervision
4) Theory of Psych otherapy & Philosophy of Supervision
5) Supervisory Interventions
6) Supervisory Techniques
7) Crisis Intervention
Series Course 3: Legal and Ethical Issues of Supervision (or Equivalent Course)
(Online course CEs not applicable for Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselors, RNs, and Psychologists)
Write a 3-5 page summary (typed, single-spaced) in which you describe your supervision experience with your supervisee. This summary is intended to demonstrate the supervisor’s ability to monitor, assist, and enhance the supervisee’s clinical work, and to promote the conceptual, intuitive, and personal skills necessary for the supervisee’s professional development. The written case summary should also demonstrate how supervision content and methods are consistent with your personal theory of therapy and your philosophy of supervision. An outline of items to include in your written case summary can be found on the next page.
Please Include the Following Topics in Your Written Case Summary:
Theory of therapy and philosophy of supervision: Briefly state the major tenets of your theory of therapy. Briefly describe your philosophy of supervision. Demonstrate the consistency of your thinking in these two areas throughout the written case summary.
Setting: Describe the setting in which supervision took place. Discuss the type of setting, administrative structure within the setting, facilities for conducting supervision (e.g., private practice, non-profit and charitable corporation, etc.), trainings/workshops offered, methods regarding supervisee selection, and any other significant factors which impacted your supervision.
Contextual Issues: Indicate how awareness of contextual issues such as gender, age, culture and sexual orientation of the supervisor and supervisee influenced the supervisory relationship. Describe methods used to work effectively within these contexts.
Legal and Ethical Issues: Identify relevant legal and ethical issues specifically related to the supervision. Describe how you addressed them.
Assessment: Describe the supervisee’s diagnostic and treatment planning skills, theoretical base, stage of professional development, skill level, and interpersonal style.
Goals: List specific supervisor goals for supervisee’s development. List specific supervisee goals.
Methodology: Identify monitoring methods (e.g., one-way mirror, role-play, video/audio tape, records review, self-report), and describe interventions used to assist the supervisee with case conceptualization and management. Describe how your interventions facilitated the supervisee’s development.
Evaluation: Evaluate supervisee’s progress and describe methods used for evaluation.
Write a one page summary (typed, single-spaced) in which you describe your consultation experience. This summary is intended to demonstrate how the consultation experience was of benefit to you, as well as how the consultant was able to help you develop your skills as a supervisor.
What if I already have a supervision credential granted by another organization? If you already achieved approved supervisor status with another organization, you may be approved by CAMFT if you also meet the CAMFT criteria. In order for CAMFT to evaluate the comparability of the two programs, you will need to submit a syllabus or outline of the coursework completed, a log of supervision experience (either completed subsequent to or concurrent with the education), a vitae of the consultant, documentation of completed consultation gained simultaneously with the supervision experience, and a written case summary. It is possible that all or a portion of the documentation may be accepted to meet the various requirements of the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Program. All such requests for consideration must be in writing, and submitted with or subsequent to the initial application.
Will the fees be modified if some or all of the requirements have been met while preparing for another certification? The fees are modest and are applicable for all applicants, regardless of work completed to achieve a credential from another organization.
I’ve been supervising for twenty years. Can I be “grandfathered” in? No. Applicants are evaluated based upon meeting or exceeding the established criteria.
Can the group consultation be accomplished by regular meetings of a group of peer supervisors? No, there must be an identifiable consultant who has been approved by CAMFT to provide the consultation.
I have already taken a course, or I am already in the midst of taking a course in supervision. How do I determine if the course meets the CAMFT certification requirements? Send to CAMFT a course syllabus. CAMFT will review the course to determine if it is substantially the equivalent. All or a portion of the education may be accepted as meeting the coursework requirement.
While I haven’t taken the required coursework, I have taught coursework that is substantially the equivalent of that required for CAMFT. Teaching coursework will be treated the same as having participated in the coursework.
How do you determine whether the consultant is appropriate? If the consultant is not a current CAMFT Certified Supervisor, we ask for a vitae or resume of the proposed consultant to determine whether or not the proposed consultant has had both education and training in supervision, as well as experience in providing supervision. If it is not apparent in the vitae or resume, we seek additional documentation which indicates that the consultant has had both experience and education in supervision.
Does CAMFT have a list of CAMFT Certified Supervisors? CAMFT maintains a list of current CAMFT Certified Supervisors on its website CLICK HERE. Contact CAMFT at csp@camft.org to request an electronic copy of the list.
Can I appeal if my initial application or Verification of Completion is rejected? Yes, but all appeals are required to be in writing. The applicant shall request, in writing, consideration of the appeal by the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Committee; such request must be received by CAMFT within 45 days of the rejection received by the applicant. Upon consideration of the appeal, the application shall be either granted or denied, in writing, which shall occur within 90 days of receipt of the request. If denied, the committee shall provide, in writing, reasons for the denial. Further appeal is to be made to the CAMFT Executive Committee. Such written appeal must be received by CAMFT within 45 days of the date the denial by the CAMFT Certified Supervisor Committee was received by the applicant. The Executive Committee shall grant or deny the appeal, in writing, within 90 days of receipt of the appeal. If denied, the Executive Committee shall provide, in writing, the reasons for denial. No further appeal may be made.