Finding a Qualified LLPC Supervisor: Know the Rules.

by Paul Krauss, MA LPC

As a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC), you are going to put in a lot of effort into the 3000 hours of clinical work experience and 100 hours of supervision that is required of you to obtain your LPC. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to know if the person you are seeking supervision from is a qualified supervisor?

How do I know if my supervisor is qualified to provide Supervision?

Your Supervisor must be a LPC and has to meet all of these requirements*:

-        LPCs providing LLPC supervision prior to January 1, 2013 must have a minimum of 3 years counseling experience in addition to having received training in counselor supervision. 

-        R 338.1757 Requirements to provide counseling supervision.

- Michigan LPCs (who did not begin providing LLPC supervision until after January 1, 2013) must have: 

  • At least 3 years of counseling experience

AND

  • Received 30 hours of specific training in counselor supervision

This training includes both of the following requirements:

  • Either (a) 2 semester hours of graduate-level course in training in counseling supervision

OR

  • (b) 30 contact hours of workshop training in counseling supervision.

This training must include studies in all of the following topics:

  1. - Roles and functions of counseling supervisors.

  2. - Models of counseling supervision.

  3. - Mental health-related development.

  4. - Methods and techniques in counseling supervision,

  5. - Supervision relationship issues.

  6. - Cultural issues in supervision.

  7. - Group supervision.

  8. - Legal and ethical issues in counseling supervision.

  9. - Evaluation of supervisee and the supervision process.

Information for new LPC supervisors regarding the provision of supervision:
- When providing supervision, LPC supervisors must provide a written statement to LLPC supervisees addressing the supervisor’s qualifications (also known as a Supervisor's Personal Disclosure Document, which is different from the Personal Disclosure Document required by the State of Michigan). 
- Before the onset of supervision, LPCs must provide supervisees with a written statement that addresses their supervising qualifications, including how the licensee complies with the requirements regarding counseling experience and training.
- LPC supervisors providing supervision must keep ongoing documentation, including, but not limited to, performance and clinical notes for each supervisee on the supervision being provided.

*These requirements have been slightly paraphrased from the original language in the Counseling General Rules

No matter if you work for yourself, an agency, community mental health, hospital, school, or a group practice, Paul Krauss MA LPC is a qualified supervisor and can contract with you and your organization to provide you the quality supervision that you will need to obtain your LPC.

Paul Krauss MA LPC is qualified to provide supervision to LLPCs, according to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs- Counseling General Rules. You can read the rules for yourself, here.

*Disclaimer: Remember, this is a guide written by Paul Krauss—and should not be viewed as the definitive information source on the topic. If you need a professional consultant on the topic, please find one. The best source is, of course, going directly to the Michigan Board of Counseling/ LARA, reading the entire webpage, and asking questions.