In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson welcomes back Jamie Watson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, for a deep dive into the world of clinical supervision. The conversation explores the unique requirements and philosophy behind AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) supervision training, comparing it to other approaches and emphasizing the importance of systemic thinking. Dr. Tara Sanderson and Jamie discuss the responsibilities and challenges of becoming a supervisor, the layers of supervisor development, and the vital role of ongoing mentorship and consultation. The episode is filled with practical insights, personal anecdotes, and thoughtful reflections on how to better prepare, support, and inspire both supervisors and supervisees in the mental health field.

In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson welcomes Dr. Sami Pieknik, a licensed psychologist specializing in neurodivergent affirming care, to discuss neurodiversity in clinical supervision. The conversation explores the challenges neurodivergent students and clinicians face within a field often focused on pathology, emphasizing the importance of accommodations, flexibility, and energy management for both personal and professional well-being. Dr. Tara Sanderson and Dr. Sami Pieknik share practical strategies for supervisors to support neurodivergent supervisees, such as curiosity-driven dialogue, individualized scheduling, and modeling healthy boundaries. The episode also highlights the value of taking breaks and building a strong foundation for a fulfilling career, with Dr. Sami Pieknik sharing details about neurodivergent-affirming trainings available for clinicians.

In this episode of Supervision Smorgasbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson (Dr. Tara Sanderson) dives into the challenging but crucial role of gatekeeping in clinical supervision. The discussion highlights the uncomfortable responsibility supervisors have in upholding professional standards, especially when supervisees aren't meeting ethical or clinical expectations. Listeners are given practical advice: instead of cushioning tough feedback, supervisors should clearly reference the relevant ethical standards and frame feedback as part of their duty to the profession. Dr. Sanderson also shares tools from the Supervision Smorgasbord Journal to help supervisors confidently handle high-stakes conversations, reinforcing that effective gatekeeping is both an act of professional care and ethical responsibility.