Supervising for TPI’s Psychotherapy Training Program offers a rich opportunity to work deeply with developing therapists, and to form collaborative relationships with a supervisory team of seasoned clinicians.

Our supervisors make important contributions to training the next generation of psychodynamic psychotherapists, and we are grateful for their support to the field and to the TPI community. Click here to see a list of our current Supervisors.

We interview new supervisors at intervals throughout the year, and accept applications at any time. Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year; we will contact you when the next round of interviews has been scheduled. Download Application Packet.

The Supervisors’ Selection Committee at The Psychotherapy Institute will review, and contact you with specific information about the interview. Interviews are held with two members of the committee and last for approximately 45 minutes.

Criteria for Applying

TPI seeks supervisors who provide the following qualities:

• Fulfill the State requirements:

• To supervise ASW, MFT and/or PCC associates: Possess a current and active license in the state of California; have been licensed in California (or any other state) for at least two years out of the last five years; and practiced psychotherapy during at least two of the last five years.

• To supervise PsyD/PhD interns: Be a licensed psychologist or Board-certified psychiatrist, and possess and maintain a valid, active license free of any formal disciplinary action.

• Prior experience supervising.

• Knowledge of psychodynamic concepts and ability to apply them to clinical work.

• Commitment to engaging with sociocultural issues and processes in supervision.

• Ability to working relationally with supervisees.

Benefits of Supervising

Supervising for TPI’s Psychotherapy Training Program offers a rich opportunity to work deeply with developing therapists, and to form collaborative relationships with a robust community of seasoned clinicians. Some supervisory relationships lead to ongoing supervision and/or consultation following the completion of training. Supervising faculty are invited to join a small ongoing monthly peer consultation group focused on supervising. Supervisors are also able to attend training and CE courses for reduced and/or no cost through the institute. Our supervisors make important contributions to training the next generation of psychodynamic psychotherapists. Supervisors are a critical part of our effort to meet community needs for moderate fee and sliding scale fee therapy, and we are grateful for the wisdom and support they offer the mental health field.

Additional Areas of Expertise Sought

In addition to seeking individual supervisors to oversee general practice adult individual and couple cases, we welcome those with the following areas of experience & expertise:

• Providing Group Supervision and/or Experience leading groups.

• Supervising or treating people from diverse populations, in particular, people of color, LGBTQI+ identified clients, and those with different countries of origin.

• Supervising adolescent cases (TPI partners with a community-based organization called College Track to provide mental health services to high-school-age teens).

Value on Sociocultural Processes

Close attention to sociocultural issues and processes in supervision is an important aspect of TPI’s approach to supervision. Supervising with an eye toward the complexity of human diversity is of course challenging, and goes beyond simply acknowledging that some people are marginalized and underserved. Many factors are relevant to how individuals develop emotionally and psychologically, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spiritual orientation, class, privilege and economic power, and historical and institutional forms of oppression. As such, TPI supervisors play a central role in helping supervisees think about these issues clinically, and as they pertain to the supervisory dyad. TPI periodically offers training on this important issue, and supervisors are encouraged to attend.

Team Approach

Each staff therapist (trainee in the Psychotherapy Training Program) has a primary, a secondary, and a group supervisor. If the caseload warrants it, a tertiary supervisor is added. Each individual supervisor provides 1 hour of weekly supervision. These supervisors make up the Supervisory Team, which typically meets three times during the 2 year training program with the staff therapist and the clinical director to discuss and support the supervisee’s development.

Click here to learn more about TPI’s team approach to supervision.

How Do I Apply?

If you are interested in supervising at TPI and meet the criteria above, email the Supervisors' Committee at
supervisors@tpi-berkeley.org  or email Shira Luft at shiraluftLCSW@gmail.com