Fundamentals Course

AAMFT Approved Supervisors ensure a learning environment that is supportive and nurturing while providing therapists and trainees access to the latest innovations in the field. This Fundamentals of Supervision course is required for the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation. To learn more about completing the supervision-mentoring training requirements toward the designation, please download the  Approved Supervisor Designation: Standards Handbook

Eligibility Criteria

  • AAMFT Members and Non-Members are welcome to take the course. One must be an AAMFT Member (Clinical Fellow or Professional Member) to complete the course toward their AS designation training. Non-members must become a member before beginning the supervision training. 
  • Must complete an AAMFT offered 30 credits Fundamentals of Supervision course to fulfill the educational requirement toward the Approved Supervisor designation.

Courses are offered in the following quarters:

    • January - March
    • April - June
    • July- September
    • October - December

Course Requirements

  • TEXTBOOK REQUIREMENT: There is a textbook requirement for all options of the Fundamentals of Supervision course. This text is sold separately and NOT included in the price of the course. You can purchase that textbook by visiting this link.
  • FINAL PAPER: The Philosophy of Supervision paper must be completed within 1 month from the last interactive session date. No extensions will be granted.

Course Description: This course is taught from a systemic/relational perspective and covers many generalist ideas. That is, rather than “teach” supervision or supervise therapy from a particular perspective (modernist, postmodernist, constructionist, developmental, clinical), the course covers the basics for a number of perspectives that may fit the course participants’ ideas and worldviews. Through presentations, readings, short assignments, and online, face-to-face, interactive sessions, the course allows students a number of perspectives related to the purpose and goals of supervision within AAMFT supervision course guidelines. These include helping train therapists to ensure client care, mastering competencies (both core and approach-specific), self-of-the-therapist and self-of-the-supervisor, context-sensitive, therapist professional growth, and other purposes as the supervisor and training therapist identify as individual supervisory systems. The course instructors are themselves constructionists in perspective but teach and supervise a variety of perspectives and therapy/supervision approaches.

Options for Course Completion:

AAMFT offers two different options for course completion that will best fit your particular needs of becoming an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. The first option is a hybrid course, consisting of 15 hours of interactive time and 15 hours of online work. The second option is a fully virtual, 30-hour course with no online work.

We ask that you please use a headset, earbuds, or any type of personal earphone for the interactive portion of this class. Access and use of a webcam is required for this session, and lack thereof may result in removal from the session. Please be sure to test using the equipment (i.e. computer, browser, headset, etc.) that you are planning to use to complete the course. Access to interactive webinars needs to be from a non-distracting, private place because of confidentiality and security. Please avoid accessing the interactive webinars from public areas (coffeehouses, restaurants, etc.). Please e-mail learning@aamft.org for any questions regarding this.

Option A: 30-hour Hybrid Course

Members $750 
Non-Members $850

Candidates for the Approved Supervisor designation will complete half of the course online and half through interactive Zoom sessions and on our online learning platform Teneo, over six weeks. It will consist of one 1-hour introductory meeting and five 3-hour interactive sessions. You must attend ALL SIX SESSIONS in their entirety and complete the online work in between the interactive sessions. 

The Philosophy of Supervision paper must be completed within 1 month from the last interactive session date. No extensions will be granted.

 
Continuing Education: 30 CEs, including 6 for ethics, will be received after completing the interactive sessions, online units, and the philosophy of supervision paper. Please keep in mind that this is a course, not a workshop.

    Option B: 30-hour Virtual Interactive Course

    Members $750 
    Non-Members $850

    Candidates for the Approved Supervisor designation will complete the course over 4 days (7.5 hours a day) via Zoom. The Philosophy of Supervision paper must be completed within 1 month from the last session date. No extensions will be granted. You must attend ALL FOUR SESSIONS in their entirety.

    Continuing Education: 30 CEs, including 6 for ethics, will be received after completing the interactive sessions, online units, and the philosophy of supervision paper. Please keep in mind that this is a course, not a workshop.

    Attendance Policy:

    Failure to attend all course sessions in their entirety will result in losing registration fees (no partial refunds) and having to retake the entire course. No extensions, course transfers, or other accommodations will be made if you miss a session. It is your responsibility to check your calendar for availability for each course and attend at the correct times.


    In the case of circumstances beyond its control, the AAMFT reserves the right to make necessary changes in presenters and content of all AAMFT Approved Supervision Courses.