The Soul Care for Therapist podcast, hosted by Dawn Gabriel, recently featured Jessica Walsh, Ph.D., LPC and Hannah Davis, Ph.D., LPC, who shared their insights into supervising and training interns through licensure. The guests discussed how they started working together, creating their counseling practice, and their unique approach to supervision. Dr. Jessica Walsh and Dr. Hannah Davis are the co-founders and co-directors of The Forge Counseling Collective and the Training Institute at Forge where they run a counseling center alongside a unique program for interns and pre-licensed counselors.
Starting out – Merging Skills and Combining Forces
Jessica Walsh started Forge Counseling Collective about ten years ago and Hannah Davis joined her three years later. They met in their doctoral program in counselor education and supervision. They initially started working next to each other but eventually merged their skills to open a training institute. Hannah had started a small training program of her own and decided to move from another state and join Jessica’s private practice. They both saw potential in each other and after realizing their skills were complementary, they decided to merge their practice and combine forces to create a training institute. The duo’s partnership has now grown and is an excellent example of how a joint effort can yield significant results.
High-Quality Supervision Model
During the podcast, the duo explained the benefits of a high-quality supervision model, where both therapists and students receive the support they need. Jessica and Hannah shared how they have been recording and documenting their training sessions to ensure the process is supportive and effective. “We want to train people to not only be excellent therapists but to be good at running a business and understanding that those two things really go hand in hand.” They recognize the importance of creating a safe space where therapists and students can show vulnerability without feeling judged. Supervision can be an intense process, and sometimes, students want to hide from feedback or avoid difficult conversations, which is why a safe space is crucial. “We try to create a culture where people feel like they can bring their whole selves, and not just the part that’s trying to impress or be perfect, and that they can show up as they are and we’ll work with that.”
Documentation and Feedback
Jessica and Hannah also discussed the importance of documentation and feedback in their practice. “So documentation is really important because we can use it as a tool for reflection, but also to help us to give feedback.” They record and document their sessions, which allows them to give detailed feedback to their students, encouraging personal and professional growth. Recording sessions also help the students understand how their clients perceive them and how they can improve their interactions. “The feedback that you get from your supervisor is really important because they can help you to improve your practice, and they can also help you to identify areas where you need to work on. “Additionally, the recorded sessions provide students with a resource that they can refer to when they need to review techniques or recall feedback given by their supervisors.
Tips and Action Steps
The discussion provided excellent insights into the importance of a high-quality supervision model and the benefits of recording and documenting sessions. For therapists looking to train interns, here are a few tips:
Prioritize Emotional Safety and Support
Supervision can be an intense and vulnerable process. It is essential to create a safe space where therapists and students can show vulnerability without feeling judged. Prioritizing emotional safety and support can help students to grow, make mistakes, and learn from them.
Document Sessions
Recording and documenting sessions are excellent ways to provide detailed feedback to students and help them understand how their clients perceive them. Recorded sessions also provide students with a resource they can refer to when they need to review techniques or recall feedback given by their supervisors.
Develop a Leadership Team
Developing a leadership team can help distribute responsibilities, improve efficiency, and provide support to students and therapists. Having team leads, supervisors, and clinical directors can help distribute responsibilities and prevent therapists from becoming overwhelmed.