Clinical social work FAQ

General information only—not a substitute for professional advice or an established clinical relationship.

What is clinical social work?: The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners adhere to the Texas Administrative Code. Rule 781.102 of the Texas Administrative Code defines a clinical social worker as "using specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions and addictions, including severe mental illness and serious emotional disturbances in adults, adolescents and children. Treatment methods may include, but are not limited to, providing individual, marital, couple, family and group psychotherapy. Clinical social workers are qualified and authorized to use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and other diagnostic classification systems in assessment, diagnosis and other practice activities."
Is clinical social work for me?: Clinical social work practice focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical social workers provide these services in a variety of settings including private practice, mental health clinics and hospitals. Clinical social workers are working with individuals and families that are under distress or not functioning well in their homes, places of employment or communities due to a variety of experiences. Clinical social workers are problem solvers – by understanding the impact of the systems, environment, structures and psychological struggles – and providing individual, group and family therapy to assist in improved functioning. Clinical social work requires a commitment to continued professional growth to remain up-to-date on current trends and techniques and the impact they have on the populations you serve.
I don't diagnose in my current position. Will my job qualify as a clinical social work position?: Rule 781.102 defines clinical social work as "using specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, conditions and addictions…" It continues that clinical social workers are "qualified and authorized to use the DSM, ICD and CPT codes…" for assessment and diagnosis. It identifies interventions as individual, marriage, family or group psychotherapy, mediation, and case management. In most settings, it is the physician, psychiatrist or independently licensed mental health professional who diagnose the client. To fulfil the requirement for LCSW Supervision, you must be using your diagnostic skills and screening tools with clients. In other words, if you have client interactions and utilize clinical skills, you will probably meet LCSW supervision criteria.
How do I become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas?: Rule 781.401 outlines the Qualification for Licensure. This rule states that the LMSW must have a minimum of 100 hours of supervision with a board-approved supervisor over 3000 hours of professional clinical experience over 24 to 48 months. So, an approved plan for full-time work requires that clinical supervision occurs 2 to 4 times a month, with each session being for 1-2 hours. I can break this up as four 1-hour sessions per month or two 2-hour sessions per month. This will allow you to complete your required 100 hours of supervision in 2 years! Supervision can be completed over a combination of individual and group sessions, and can be via teleconferencing.
Can my LCSW supervision be outside my place of employment?: Yes! Rule 781.404 requires that a Clinical Supervision Plan be submitted, along with a current job description and a letter from the agency executive on agency letterhead authorizing you to participate in outside clinical supervision with me.
What do I need to get the supervision process started?: In order to begin supervision with me, you will need the following: • Schedule a 30 minute free consultation with me • Current resume • Statement of professional goals • Letter on your company/agency letterhead indicating permission for you to receive supervision from outside of your employment • A job description on your company/agency's letterhead ◦ 2 professional references • Complete and submit the Clinical Supervision Plan for LCSW application on the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's website • The following books: ◦ DSM 5 ◦ Social Work Treatment edited by Francis J. Turner ◦ Social Work Values and Ethics by Frederic G Reamer ◦ NASW Standards for Clinical Social Work in Social Work Practice ◦ Any social work practice textbook • A commitment to a minimum of 4 hours of supervision time and a cost of $95 per hour • Create a system to track your supervision hours, months and work hours
How do I become a LCSW?: After completing the required clinical supervision hours, you will be eligible for taking the Association of Social Work Boards clinical exam. Please review the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council / Texas State Board of Social Worker's website for the most up-to-date information on required documents to submit for applying for LCSW.
What makes my supervision unique?: Affordable: Evidence-based and individualized clinical supervision at a competitive hourly rate. Convenient: Evenings, weekends and teleconferencing available for those trying to find work-life balance in their professional growth. Individualized: Focused on your professional goals, your unique learning styles and core social work competencies.

General information only—not a substitute for professional advice or an established clinical relationship.

What is clinical social work?

The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council and the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners adhere to the Texas Administrative Code. Rule 781.102 of the Texas Administrative Code defines a clinical social worker as "using specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions and addictions, including severe mental illness and serious emotional disturbances in adults, adolescents and children. Treatment methods may include, but are not limited to, providing individual, marital, couple, family and group psychotherapy. Clinical social workers are qualified and authorized to use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and other diagnostic classification systems in assessment, diagnosis and other practice activities."

Is clinical social work for me?

Clinical social work practice focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Clinical social workers provide these services in a variety of settings including private practice, mental health clinics and hospitals. Clinical social workers are working with individuals and families that are under distress or not functioning well in their homes, places of employment or communities due to a variety of experiences. Clinical social workers are problem solvers – by understanding the impact of the systems, environment, structures and psychological struggles – and providing individual, group and family therapy to assist in improved functioning. Clinical social work requires a commitment to continued professional growth to remain up-to-date on current trends and techniques and the impact they have on the populations you serve.

I don't diagnose in my current position. Will my job qualify as a clinical social work position?

Rule 781.102 defines clinical social work as "using specialized clinical knowledge and advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders, conditions and addictions…" It continues that clinical social workers are "qualified and authorized to use the DSM, ICD and CPT codes…" for assessment and diagnosis. It identifies interventions as individual, marriage, family or group psychotherapy, mediation, and case management. In most settings, it is the physician, psychiatrist or independently licensed mental health professional who diagnose the client. To fulfil the requirement for LCSW Supervision, you must be using your diagnostic skills and screening tools with clients. In other words, if you have client interactions and utilize clinical skills, you will probably meet LCSW supervision criteria.

How do I become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas?

Rule 781.401 outlines the Qualification for Licensure. This rule states that the LMSW must have a minimum of 100 hours of supervision with a board-approved supervisor over 3000 hours of professional clinical experience over 24 to 48 months. So, an approved plan for full-time work requires that clinical supervision occurs 2 to 4 times a month, with each session being for 1-2 hours. I can break this up as four 1-hour sessions per month or two 2-hour sessions per month. This will allow you to complete your required 100 hours of supervision in 2 years! Supervision can be completed over a combination of individual and group sessions, and can be via teleconferencing.

Can my LCSW supervision be outside my place of employment?

Yes! Rule 781.404 requires that a Clinical Supervision Plan be submitted, along with a current job description and a letter from the agency executive on agency letterhead authorizing you to participate in outside clinical supervision with me.

What do I need to get the supervision process started?

In order to begin supervision with me, you will need the following: • Schedule a 30 minute free consultation with me • Current resume • Statement of professional goals • Letter on your company/agency letterhead indicating permission for you to receive supervision from outside of your employment • A job description on your company/agency's letterhead ◦ 2 professional references • Complete and submit the Clinical Supervision Plan for LCSW application on the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's website • The following books: ◦ DSM 5 ◦ Social Work Treatment edited by Francis J. Turner ◦ Social Work Values and Ethics by Frederic G Reamer ◦ NASW Standards for Clinical Social Work in Social Work Practice ◦ Any social work practice textbook • A commitment to a minimum of 4 hours of supervision time and a cost of $95 per hour • Create a system to track your supervision hours, months and work hours

How do I become a LCSW?

After completing the required clinical supervision hours, you will be eligible for taking the Association of Social Work Boards clinical exam. Please review the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council / Texas State Board of Social Worker's website for the most up-to-date information on required documents to submit for applying for LCSW.

What makes my supervision unique?

Affordable: Evidence-based and individualized clinical supervision at a competitive hourly rate. Convenient: Evenings, weekends and teleconferencing available for those trying to find work-life balance in their professional growth. Individualized: Focused on your professional goals, your unique learning styles and core social work competencies.