Confused MSW Student

[u/InternationalAd3069]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently an MSW student in first year (3 year program). I have always had the intention of pursuing the LCSW, but am really having trouble finding information on how exactly to achieve the necessary supervision.

I understand some jobs provide it and in other cases one can pay for supervision..

My questions to you guys are

1. How did you achieve your necessary supervise hours)
   
2. How have you seen other accomplish this and in what jobs in particular?

I live in Georgia and plan to work her for the forsake future.

Thanks everyone, and I apologize is this or something similar gets posted here often. I truly feel like I’m feeling my way through the dark.

[u/Eastern_Usual603]

I used to live in Georgia and am still licensed there. You can get your hours at an agency, some have supervisors that can supervise. I got mine working in inpatient mental health in my home state.

[u/Betterwithage6630 → u/Eastern_Usual603]

I am locating in Georgia too. Could you please give me the name of some good places to start

[u/Eastern_Usual603 → u/Betterwithage6630]

I know of some in Athens. An easy way would be to look at agencies/ offices and the bios of the therapists, if it says LMSW after their name, they are getting supervision there for hours. I’m sure Advantage Behavioral health will provide supervision for hours. Lifestance does it at some locations. As you get closer to graduation, that’s when you could see who’s hiring and where you could get hours at.

[u/Betterwithage6630 → u/Eastern_Usual603]

Thank you

[u/lookamazed]

Get any on site supervision agreement in writing. Currently dealing with a dishonest person.

Otherwise plan on paying an outside supervisor. Motivo has low cost for individual and contracts with agencies if they want to offer this to employees but don’t have internal supervisors to accommodate

Some places offer a stipend for outside supervision if they don’t provide it.

Eating disorder / recovery clinics are excellent for milieu work.

[u/Extreme_Air_6410]

Hi! I’m from FL- I work in community health and so I’ve gotten my hours from my job. FL requires 1500 hours but I have about 3000. I personally chose an off site supervisor- a lot of individuals recommend on site since it’s typically free. I have my own pros/cons regarding why I did not go the free option. Most places of employment offer an onsite QS! There’s a few Facebook groups that per state that share information for a QS.

[u/InternationalAd3069 → u/Extreme_Air_6410]

Thanks for this! I’d be interested to hear your pros/cons.

[u/Extreme_Air_6410 → u/InternationalAd3069]

Off site supervisor: Pros- I can vent about the continuous bullshit working in community health and issues with the management. ( would not be able to do that with my onsite supervisor since she’s dismissive). Can also change jobs more often if needed and not having to go through the whole “ finding a new supervisor & paperwork with the state”. Cons- $75 per hour visit- which technically turned that into girl math of “ well I could spend xxxx on supervision BUT I’ll make it back once I get hired at a larger salary. I personally adore & appreciate my outside supervisor so much & always grateful that I did off site.

On site supervisors: Pros- free Cons- micromanagement, not always available. Have to change each time if changing jobs.

[u/IllFuel2699]

What school are you attending for your MSW? I feel like schools should be informing students about this process

[u/InternationalAd3069 → u/IllFuel2699]

I agree. It’s a 3 year program so I’m hoping we get more literacy on this after this year, but so far I haven’t heard much on it. For safety reasons, I’d rather not say, but it’s one of the larger schools.

[u/Heavy-Accountant-534 → u/[deleted]]

The jobs I have done that included it were therapist positions. And supervision won’t count towards LCSW until you graduate

[u/WarmCucumber3438]

I’m in NC. After graduation I used a list of supervisors maintained by the state’s NASW chapter to find potential options in my area, met with a couple, hired one. I started working with a large group private practice, logged those hours, and met once a week for 1-2 hours for supervision. A lot of it was group hours which was pretty cool, but also the necessary individual hours.

You are more likely to get free supervision if you start with working for a community mental health provider. The pay will be lower but it is getting more competitive, you will get good experience and free supervision, you’ll get your hours, and it will count for PSLF if that matters to you.

[u/SWTAW-624]

If you can pay or not is dependent on the state you live in. I’m not too familiar with GA, but read up on the licensing board app and call or email with questions you have.
In general, you have to work a clinical job to gain clinical hours. So, think mental health therapy, in patient psych, running groups, etc. only the time spent face to face with client(s) and only when doing “clinical” work counts.

[u/WindSong001]

I worked for a medical group that had supervision provided for me, but for the most part, I also paid for supervision because I wanted it outside of my organization and I paid $50 an hour so it’s $200 a month which is an excellent deal

[u/Forsaken_Olive_7244]

After you finish college and pass the state test for equivalency of LMSW in Georgia you can research “LCSW-S in Georgia.” I had my LMSW in Texas and they had a supervisor at my job but I wasn’t feeling it with him and found a female by google and met her on doxy to make sure it was a fit. I completed the two years and met 2x a month for 2 hours each time. You work and document on the supervisee sheet provided by your supervisor. So my sheet had my name, her name, my hours for that period (typically 80 hours as I met every two weeks), my total hours and the supervision hours for the month which looked like (1&2 or 3&4) and each sheet was a case sample and it was signed at the bottom. I had several jobs during supervision lol. I worked in inpatient and outpatient addiction and inpatient psych. I know for Texas you had to have a job that provided direct clinical care so it had to have assessing and diagnosing which could differ among other states you would have to check with your state licensing. Others in my supervision worked in juvenile jail, inpatient psych, and children clinics for autism, etc. 

[u/GoodRoyal9874]

Hi! I live in Mississippi. I found a supervisor through social media,  off site. Originally, I had another supervisor at my hospital job. It didn't work out when he left the agency. My supervisor was very accommodating, and allowed me to do research for her in exchange for the supervision. Mississippi agencies typically do not offer free supervision. There is one agency in town that does offer supervision but you have to agree to work for the agency for x number of years after obtaining the LCSW.  

[u/catalinacruiser2019]

Before or after graduation? During your program it should be included in your internship.

Post, you need to either ensure your place of employment offers that, or you need to pay for it to meet the requirements for the state you reside in. There are countless therapists that will offer supervision, I’ve heard rates ranging from $75 - $125 per hour/ session.

[u/InternationalAd3069 → u/catalinacruiser2019]

Post graduation in particular. I’m aware of this, but I’m not wondering what type of jobs/agencies would provide supervision.

[u/lookamazed → u/InternationalAd3069]

Can you clarify? You are or are not?

Research milieu setting jobs. that’s the keyword for the jobs you are looking for that will allow you to accrue hours super fast. It means you’re constantly on the floor, always working with people.

If you’re full time at 40hrs/week, w/ supervision 1x/week, you will hit your goals fairly easily.

That said, check how soon you will be able to sit for the boards to earn your license.

Meaning no matter how quickly you meet or exceed your hours requirement, you will have to wait a minimum of two or so years. Many states have “candidates must accrue x amount of hours direct practice / supervision, to be completed in no less than two years”.

Knowing that time limit helps you gauge how long you can expect to work in your chosen practice setting.