Even graduates of the best MSW programs face self-doubt during their supervised practice period.
Not sure that they learned what they learned in school
Have to put what they learned into practice and that feels uncomfortable;
Not sure that they trust their boss to be their clinical supervisor because it is scary to be vulnerable with your boss
They have questions, but they're afraid they're "dumb" questions
They have to do this for 2 years, which is bad enough, but it could be longer
They have to prove they had the time—360 hours!—in 6 different content areas in their master’s program or after
Then they have to pass a test on things they learned in grad school—two or more years prior!
The test is extremely broad, but what they do at work might be very focused. They don't know where to turn, and might turn to social media for case consult, or not consult at all, which can get them into trouble before their career has really started.
They might change jobs during the supervised practice, which can create disruptions and delay in getting the supervision hours needed to get to their goal
While working towards their next license, they still have to meet the requirements of the current license, including 40 Continuing Education hours in a 2 year renewal period.
The New Therapist Starter Kit addresses all of these challenges.
The New Therapist Starter Pack is a two-year program that operates in trimester modules, renewing on 4-month intervals.
Each 4-month module includes:
16 hours of group supervision in 2-hour sessions twice per month, on Saturdays so it doesn’t conflict with employer demands
Knowledge Base: 8 Continuing Education Hoursin subject areas taken from the license exam—live, once per month, or done at your own pace as independent study after the live event
past courses are available to you while you stay in the program
Bonus: A workbook to help organize your goals and the hours you obtain each trimester
Bonus: A comprehensive hours tracker that will help you complete every step for MN BOSW LICSW licensure when you need it, with links to the forms you need.
Bonus: An online community where you can ask your questions with people you have come to know and who are invested in you and your success--not some rando on the internet!
Moderation will be from approved license supervisors who can help make sure that you don't get bad advice.
The cohort opens 3 times per year to allow people to join and “graduate” according to their license journey, while also maintaining the stability of the group and mutual support. Cohorts open in February, June and October.
While you start your career as a new therapist, don't forget that in about 2 years there's a ton of stuff you have to show the board you've done.
Do you have your 360 clock hours? Do you even know what that is?
Have you had enough license supervision at the right rate and the right balance between group and individual?
Do you have enough client contact hours?
Do you have the right Continuing Education hours? Ethics? Clinical? Cultural Responsiveness?
This tracking form will help you stay on top of all the requirements, so in about 2 years, when you're ready, you'll know you really are ready with ALL of the requirements to apply for a Minnesota LICSW.
On three tabs you will easily keep track of your:
Group and Individual Supervision Hours
Do you have the minimum per month?
Have you gotten more than you should?
Do you have enough Individual supervison?
Do you have too many group supervision hours?
Are you getting enough client contact hours to finish on time?
360 Clock Hours of Education in 6 Subject Areas
Do you have what you need from your MSW Program?
Do you need additional, very specific education hours after your MSW?
This tracker page will show you exactly what you need. Just pull out your transcript and enter your semester credits. The tracker automatically translates semester credits to clock hours and let's you know what's left, if anything.
Continuing Education Hours
Enter your start and end date of your first license and it calculates how many Continuing Education Hours you need
Each 2 year renewal after, you can track not just how many total hours, but whether you have the Ethics, Cultural Humility and Clinical Content you need.
Each sheet is designed to do the work for you. It will count and calculate and change colors to let you know how close to the goal you are. All you do is enter information in the editable fields, and let the spreadsheet do the rest. If you run out of space, no you didn't, it will just add another line if you hit "tab" after the last line.
This is all you need for the 2+ years of keeping track during your supervised practice period and beyond. All for only $29.
This tracker is specifically designed to help you meet the requirements for applying for an LICSW from the Minnesota Board of Social Work. It is likely to be helpful for other supervised therapists, but you would need to check with your own board to be sure.
Other topics Aligned to the Subject areas of the ASWB Clinical Exam
Are you Working Towards Your LICSW?
Let's Take Your First Steps to LICSW Together.
Your First STeps On your Path to LICSW: Guide Video
I put this together to help new MSW grads who are seeking licensure in Minnesota to know what they need to do. If you haven't looked at it yet, please do so!
Take steps NOW so you have no avoidable delay when it is time to apply for your LICSW
This video shows you steps to take now so you're ready in 2 years.
There are links and explanations for how to set up your systems and what to look for.
In nearly a decade of helping LGSW's become LICSW's I've seen several frequent pitfalls that can be avoided. Watch my video to make sure that you don't miss out.
Helping people find their clear blue sky possibilities after their storm
Katherine Driskell, MSW, LICSW has been in the non-profit and mental health space for more than 20 years. With experience in therapy with clients from 8 to 80+, in a variety of settings, she is able to start with clients where they are, and help them reach their goals.
She is a certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant-In- Training through EMDRIA and a Certified HeartMath Interventions Practitioner. She is a member of the Minnesota Society for Clinical Social Work.
She focuses on motivated clients with clear goals. She helps them meet their goals through short-term intensive work focused directly on the origins of the blocks and beliefs that hold them back. She works with high achieving professionals and performers as well as individuals who have experienced traumas big and small. Located in the heart of the Destination Medical Center district in Rochester, Minnesota, she loves working with patients and their loved ones, doctors and providers to overcome the medical trauma that is sometimes part of healing and illness. She combines mental health and counseling knowledge and skills with cutting edge, research-supported approaches to remove barriers to achieving potential.
She has worked for the State of Minnesota providing mental health care to clients with chronic mental and behavioral challenges. She was in a leadership position at the Mayo Clinic for five years before joining a local non-profit organization to guide a program providing mental health therapists to provide care in schools.
Katherine has also provided license supervision to social workers and professional clinical counselors for nearly a decade. She sought supervision outside of her place of employment as well, knowing the value of an outside perspective. Clinicians must continually reflect on their own well-being and responses to the work they do with clients. In a safe, nurturing supervisory relationship, clinicians can become the healers they seek to be. Each year she takes on a small cohort of Clinical Social Workers and candidates for licensure as Professional Clinical Counselors for license supervision. Reach out to get on the waiting list for the next cohort here
Get Your Pathway to Independent Licensure.
Get Your Pathway to Independent Licensure!
Fill out the form below to get instant access to my pathway to your independent licensure as a Clinical Social Worker in Minnesota.
You got your MSW and now you need to put what you learned into practice:
Do you know you have all the required 360 clock hours?
How many hours of supervision, and what kind you need?
Does your Work qualify as clinical social work?
Get my infographic--with helpful links!--and find out! It will help you make your roadmap to your LICSW