MFT Supervision FAQs

Intended as a summary only. It is the responsibility of the prospective MFT Supervisee to read and understand the Laws and Rules of Utah Administrative Code as they pertain to the license and practice of marriage and family therapy. UAMFT recognizes the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) as the regulatory authority of licensing processes.

Who can supervise me?

See Utah Administrative Code R156-60b-302d
A recent change in Utah DOPL standards is that MFTs can be supervised by professionals not in our field. This has not yet been reflected in the legal code on DOPL’s website. For supervision to count toward licensure in the state of Utah, a MFT supervisor must have been fully licensed for 2 years in one of the following mental health related fields (i.e., LMFT, CMHC, LCSW, Psychiatrist, or Registered Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) and have an active license in Utah. They must also meet the criteria according to rule, which is: (1) they must be an AAMFT approved supervisor, or (2) they must have completed a supervision course in a COAMFTE accredited MFT program, or (3) they must have successfully completed the 20-hour UAMFT-sponsored course in systemic supervision. If you plan to license in a state other than Utah, the licensing board of that state may require your supervision to be with an AAMFT approved supervisor and/or have other requirements. This could mean that supervision performed by a non-AAMFT approved supervisor in Utah might not count toward licensure in another state.

How do I find a supervisor?

On the UAMFT website, we host a database of approved supervisors searchable by location, name, and type (Utah approved and/or AAMFT approved). By law, supervisors can have a maximum of 6 supervisees at a given time (note: this is also a new code and is not yet reflected in the legal code online). You can find an AAMFT approved supervisor on the AAMFT website (www.aamft.org). The clinical director of your MFT program will likely have a list of local AAMFT approved supervisors and may be a good resource in helping to find a supervisor for you.

How do I choose a supervisor?

Some clinics have an onsite supervisor whom they may require you to use. If a supervisor is not provided, you may consider the following:

• Search for a supervisor whose clinical style you like, or who specializes in a model or population you would like to work with. You can search the UAMFT database to find supervisors near you and read about their areas of expertise and therapeutic philosophy. You may also search other websites, such as Psychology Today.
• Find out what the supervisor charges for supervision. Most clinics offering onsite supervision will not require you to pay for supervision. If your clinic does not provide an onsite supervisor, ask if the clinic will pay for your supervision.
• Request a copy of the supervisor’s supervision contract (see below) and look it over prior to making a decision. Ask questions.

What should I expect from a supervisor?

See Utah Administrative Code R156-60b-302e
Your supervisor will be responsible for the therapy you do. They will want to get to know you and feel comfortable vouching for your work. Expect them to provide a supervision contract that lays out each of your responsibilities in the supervisory relationship. Be proactive about reviewing and discussing the contract. A supervisor is responsible to be consistently available to you for advice, consultation and direction about clinical, ethical and professional issues. They are required by the state to be able to provide at least 1 hour of supervision for every 10 hours of your clinical work. Your work with them should be confidential, with a plan laid out in the case of ethical violations.