Master's level social workers do internships in graduate school--a
significant part of the course time.  The internships in school generally
assume minimal experience and don't allow much if any independent practice,
generally they are more like shadowing, and they are supervised on site and
by a professor in a group setting like a practicum.  After graduation, one
may choose to sit for the certification exam. That qualifies one to do
clinical work (i.e. work as a therapist, doing diagnosis and treatment) so
long as the worker is supervised one on one (some relatively minimal group
work is OK) by an independent practitioner (in our state and LCSW or a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker).  A detailed contract is filled out and
approved by a state board, and the LCSW takes responsibility for the less
experienced worker legally and agrees to what is in our state a couple
hours' a week of supervision minimum.  Unless supervision is part of the
benefits of a job (community mental health workers and inpatient psychiatric
social workers, for example, often get supervision as a part of their work)
compensation is usually something like the therapist's usual hourly
rate--not cheap at all--or the less experienced worker works for the
supervisor and pays a percentage or leases office space.  After what amounts
to two years of this arrangement (assuming full time work) then there is
another exam which if passed allows the worker to use the title LCSW,
practice independently, diagnose and treat as a therapist, have full
protection under confidentiality laws, and do the third party payment thing.

I think this model is good in two ways, at least:  it sets us continual
mentorship and peer supervision as a professional habit and norm, and it
encourages up gradually increasing independence in terms of professional
practice.  In most cases, even for therapists who practice independently in
a private setting, this can be a win-win in that they are supervising
someone who is helping grow their practice, who can provide back up, etc.


Anisa

The Reverend Anisa Cottrell Willis, MSW/CSW, LLL Leader
Lexington, KY

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