So, you’ve finished school and are preparing to submit your application for your registered internship. CONGRATULATIONS! What an exciting time! You have come a long way! However, you might feel as though you are stuck. You can’t get your registered intern licensure number until you find a Qualified Supervisor, who agrees to supervise you. So, exactly how do you find one of those?
Well, without knowing, it can seem extremely confusing and complicated. I originally assumed that there would be some sort of online directory that the FL board would so delightfully provide access to and I could browse around and search for the right one that fit my needs. However, I was soon to find out that my assumptions would be wrong! Along with a lot of assumptions I’ve had about how things would work, post-graduation but, that will come later.
There are several ways to find a qualified supervisor. So, I am going to list a few examples but, first I am going to give you the “official” answer (if there is such a thing).
1. The Florida Board of Mental Health will provide an official list, of qualified supervisors, who are qualified to supervise your licensure in which you are seeking. In order to obtain one, you must email the board and ask for one. Provide them with your name, credentials, location and state that you are looking for a list of qualified supervisors. They will email you back a pdf which will contain such information. Then you will have to sift through to find someone, who interests you. Good luck with that! The list doesn’t state whether or not the person is available to take on supervisees and or if they are even still in practice. There isn’t a bio or a picture or any additional information simply a list of names, addresses, and credentials.
2. Another option is a really useful website called Meet Your Supervisor. It was created by Dr. Maria Martinez-Salazar. Her website is an actually online directory of qualified supervisors and is extremely useful and much more simplistic than even the FL Boards current process. It consists of a searchable directory of qualified supervisors, with pictures, bios and contact information.
As I stated earlier, there are several ways to find qualified supervisors. However, if I were to suggest to anyone, these would be the first two places I would start. Then, I would suggest asking classmates, professors, and co-workers who they use, who they suggest or ways they have found qualified supervisors. Then my last suggestion would be to network, network, and network.
Please feel free to add your suggestions, advice, or questions below in the comments.
Jessica Richards is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern for the State of Florida. As a graduate of NOVA Southeastern University, she holds a master's degree in Mental Health Counseling. She currently contracts with local community agencies to obtain hours for full LMHC licensure, while working on establishing her private practice, Peace of Mind Counseling. Both located in Orlando, Florida.
