Clinical supervision for LMFT Associates in North Carolina and MFT Residents in Virginia
AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Thanks for being here.
Looking for the right AAMFT Approved Supervisor can be a daunting task. Hopefully, I can answer some questions and alleviate some fears.
Becoming a confident, effective, and fulfilled therapist is so much more than theories, treatment plans, interventions and progress notes.
The greatest growth as a clinician comes from learning to be fully present with your client, staying grounded in yourself, thinking systemically, and trusting the client's capacity for healing rather than believing you must rescue or fix them.
Some days you’ll leave a session thinking, “that felt really good.”
Other days you’ll drive home replaying everything you said, the client said, and what you wish you’d said.
How I Approach Clinical Supervision
Supervision is not about giving you the “right” answer.
It’s about helping you slow down, think more deeply, and begin trusting your own clinical judgment.
It’s also about learning how to be in the room.
How to stay grounded when a client is sobbing uncontrollably.
How to remain present when a couple is screaming at one another.
How to respond when someone shuts down, dissociates, or tells you something you never saw coming. Usually with five minutes left in session or even better, when they are walking out the door.
We will talk about interventions, theory, ethics, documentation, and all the practical pieces of becoming licensed.
But more often than not, I’ll ask another question instead of immediately giving you an answer.
Not because I’m avoiding the question.
Because I want you to develop the confidence to think through complex clinical situations long after supervision ends.
Once in a while a supervisee will say to me, “I was in this tough situation with my client and I had no idea what to say or do and I thought, ‘what would Sharon do.’”
When I ask, “What do you think I would do?” the answer is usually,
“You’d slow down and check in with your emotions and body before responding.”
Yup, that’s what I’d do.
You have the education, you passed that dang MFT exam, you’ve been given clients to care for. Now settle in yourself, calm your nervous system, and the knowledge will most often return.
And, in the situations where you still won’t know what comes next, you’ll be ready to steadily reassure the client that though you don’t have the answer, you will help them find it.
I believe that over time you’ll find yourself relying less on what I would do and more on your own ability to thoughtfully understand the people sitting across from you and to trust yourself enough to stay present with them.
That’s when I know supervision is working.
Curious if we’re a good fit?
Clinical Supervision Endorsement
“Sharon is the best supervisor I could have asked for. Her clinical knowledge is extensive. More than that, she believed in me before I fully believed in myself.”
When people ask why I feel confident as a therapist, my honest answer includes Sharon. Expect warmth, kindness, and gentle challenge, and if you get the chance to work with her, you'll be in good hands.”
– Zack Ufland, LMFT
Compassionate, AAMFT-Approved Clinical Supervision for Growing TherapistsAAMFT Supervision Without Shame
The best supervision happens when you feel safe enough to say,
“I’m stuck.”
“I don’t know what to do next.”
“I think I missed something.”
Those aren’t failures.
They’re often when the best learning begins.
The best therapists aren’t the ones with the fewest questions. I’d say the opposite is true.
They’re the ones who’ve learned how to stay curious when the answers aren’t obvious.
You will be challenged in my supervision groups.
You will also be encouraged.
I believe therapists grow through curiosity, not criticism.
The learning never endsOngoing Growth in LMFTA Supervision
In my very first group supervision in grad school, the professor said something that made no sense to me. “You will be a different person at the end of this program.” He gave no explanation. Left the statement hanging there.
He was right.
My way of viewing people’s challenges and their suffering lost the edge of judgment.
My own failures, struggles, family system, choices, and hurts began to make sense.
The journey to full licensure is ever unfolding. Even with that LMFT behind our name, we continue to strengthen our clinical skills and learn more about ourselves along the way.
You will make mistakes.
You don’t have all the answers.
You will never “arrive.”
If I can sum up my hope for you as a LMFTA or Resident in MFT, it is this:
Learn from the mistakes.
Trust your client to have the answers to their struggles.
Faith Integration in Clinical Supervision
We are not one or even two-dimensional beings.
We are mind, body, and spirit.
The human spirit is the deepest part of our humanity—the place where God's presence is encountered and where faith, worship, and transformation take root.
Our clients are not one-dimensional and neither are we.
Christian faith is the foundation of my worldview and I’m very comfortable helping others integrate faith into their work.
Faith is simply one more lens through which we can understand a person's story, and when invited by the client, it can become a meaningful resource for healing and growth.
Curious if we’re a good fit?
Clinical Supervision Endorsement
“My time with Sharon as my LMFT supervisor was marked by her distinct combination of clinical competency and genuine encouragement.”
I felt the freedom to ask questions and be honest,
knowing I would be met with support and practical guidance.”
– Laura Day, LMFT
Apply for AAMFT Supervision
Finding the right supervisor matters.
If my approach resonates with you, I’d love to learn more about your goals and what you’re looking for in supervision.
Submit an application, and I’ll review it, and if it looks like we might be a good fit, we’ll schedule a time to talk.
The Right Choice for You
If you decide to fill out an application and begin your supervision journey with me or if you decide to go in a different direction, I wish you well and hope your LMFTA experiences give you clarity and confidence as you continue the wild ride of bringing hope and healing to those entrusted to your care.
Still have questions?
Learn more about how supervision works →
