Clinical Supervision DC
For Social Workers
You've earned your MSW. You're ready to make a difference in mental health. But between you and independent licensure as an LICSW stands one crucial requirement: quality clinical supervision that helps you grow as a clinician while meeting DC Board requirements.
If you're a Licensed Graduate Social Worker (LGSW) in Washington DC, you need more than someone checking boxes on your supervision hours. You need a supervisor who understands the communities you serve and the systemic challenges your clients face.
Why Clinical Supervision Matters for Your Professional Development
Clinical supervision isn't just a licensure requirement. It's your opportunity to develop the clinical expertise and confidence you'll carry throughout your career.
The clinical supervisor you choose shapes how you think about diagnosis, treatment, and the therapeutic relationships you build with patients and families.
For social workers serving Black, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities in DC, finding the right clinical supervisors means finding someone who won't perpetuate the same Eurocentric approaches that cause harm.
You need supervision that addresses the real-world challenges your clients face not just theoretical models that ignore systemic oppression.
Quality supervision helps you navigate complex cases involving trauma, cultural identity, and the ongoing stress of living in systems that weren't built for the people you serve preparing you for independent social work practice.
Meet Your Clinical Supervisor: Charika White, LICSW, LCSW-C
I'm Charika White, and I provide individual clinical supervision for social workers
working toward LICSW licensure in Washington DC.
As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with dual licensure in DC and Maryland, I bring both clinical expertise and lived experience as a queer Black immigrant woman from the Caribbean.
My supervision approach centers on helping you develop cultural responsiveness that goes beyond awareness. We focus on recognizing when diagnostic practices reflect bias rather than clinical necessity because over diagnosing or under-diagnosing Black and brown clients does more harm than simply missing symptoms.
It perpetuates systems that pathologize normal responses to abnormal circumstances.
I understand what it means to navigate mental health spaces that weren't designed for you or the communities you serve. That understanding informs every supervision session, whether we're discussing a challenging case, reviewing your clinical documentation, or exploring how your own identity shows up in the therapeutic space.
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DC Supervision Requirements for LGSW
For Licensed Graduate Social Workers (LGSW)
To advance from LGSW to Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Washington DC, you must complete:
3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience
Minimum 100 hours of direct supervision with a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Timeframe: Complete hours over 2-4 years
Ratio: At least 1 hour of supervision for every 40 hours of clinical work
Board approval: Submit supervision plan to DC Board of Social Work
All supervision hours for LGSW must be provided by an LICSW in good standing with the DC Department of Health. Your supervisor participates in your initial intake and diagnostic assessment of clients, provides ongoing case consultation, and ensures you're developing the clinical competence needed for independent practice.
What Makes This Supervision Different
Culturally Responsive, Not Just Culturally Aware
Many clinical supervisors can acknowledge that culture matters.
Few can help you navigate the nuanced ways that Eurocentric diagnostic frameworks cause harm in communities of color.
We examine when a client's response to systemic oppression gets misdiagnosed as individual pathology, and we develop treatment approaches that honor resilience rather than pathologize survival strategies.
This isn't about political correctness. It's about clinical accuracy and doing no harm.
Focus on Marginalized Communities
If you're working with LGBTQ+ clients, immigrants, Black adults, or other communities that experience ongoing systemic trauma, you need clinical supervision that acknowledges these realities.
We discuss how to hold space for clients navigating identity, belonging, discrimination, and the exhausting work of existing in spaces that weren't designed for them.
Your clients don't need another therapist who dismisses the impact of racism, homophobia, or xenophobia as "just part of life." They need skilled professionals who understand that addressing these systemic issues is part of the therapeutic work—not a distraction from it.
Flexible Supervision to Meet Your Needs
You choose how often we meet based on your clinical needs and the requirements for completing your licensure hours. Whether you're working in community mental health, a university counseling center, or private practice, we structure clinical supervision to support your professional growth while ensuring you meet all DC Board requirements and document your hours appropriately.
Clinical Supervision Fees and Availability
Individual Clinical Supervision: $90 per hour
This is an introductory rate for clinicians building their supervised practice hours.
The investment in quality supervision pays forward throughout your entire career, this is where you develop the clinical skills, confidence, and approach that will serve you and your clients for decades.
I'm currently accepting new supervisees for individual supervision sessions. Group supervision may become available as demand grows, but right now my focus is on providing the individualized attention that helps you grow as a clinician.
Flexible scheduling available. We'll find a supervision rhythm that works with your clinical schedule and the requirements for completing your hours within the Board's timeframe.
Who Clinical Supervision Is For
LGSW clinicians working toward LICSW licensure who want clinical supervision that addresses cultural competence and systemic oppression
Social workers serving Black, immigrant, LGBTQ+, or other marginalized communities in the DC area
MSW graduates completing practicum or internship hours at a university or clinical training program
Social work professionals in community mental health, hospitals, or private practice settings who need Board-approved supervision
You don't need years of experience. You need the willingness to examine your own biases, grow through challenging conversations, and develop clinical skills that actually serve the communities you're committed to helping.
What to Expect in Clinical Supervision
Case Consultation and Clinical Guidance
We review your active cases, discuss diagnostic considerations, explore treatment planning options, and identify when you're stuck or uncertain about next steps. You bring questions, I provide guidance grounded in clinical best practices and cultural responsiveness.
Documentation and Requirements
Supervision includes reviewing your clinical documentation to ensure it meets Board standards, tracking your supervision hours appropriately, and staying on pace to complete your requirements within the required timeframe. I maintain detailed records of each supervision session including dates, duration, and focus areas.
Professional Growth Beyond Licensure
The goal isn't just to check boxes for the Board. It's to help you become the kind of clinician who can hold complexity, trust your judgment, navigate ethical challenges, and show up fully for clients even when cases are difficult. We discuss how your identity and lived experience inform your clinical work, and we develop your capacity to work with the variety of presenting issues you'll encounter in DC's diverse communities.
Getting Started with Clinical Supervision
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
We'll meet briefly to discuss your supervision needs, where you are in completing your hours, and whether this supervision approach aligns with your professional development goals. This is your opportunity to ask questions about my supervision style, the logistics of working together, and how we'll structure sessions.Submit Required Documentation
Once you decide to move forward, you'll need to submit your supervision plan to the DC Board of Social Work for approval before we begin accruing supervision hours.Begin Regular Supervision Sessions
We'll establish a supervision schedule that meets Board requirements and supports your clinical growth. You'll bring cases for consultation, questions about diagnosis and treatment, and the challenges you're encountering in your clinical work. I'll provide guidance, ask questions that deepen your thinking, and help you develop the confidence to practice independently.
Frequently Asked Questions About DC Clinical Supervision
How much does LCSW supervision cost in DC?
Individual clinical supervision rates in Washington DC typically range from $75-150 per hour depending on the clinical supervisors experience and expertise. Life Migration Therapy offers individual supervision at $90 per hour, which is competitive for quality, culturally responsive supervision in the DC area.
How do I find an LCSW supervisor in DC?
Start by searching directories of licensed clinical supervisors, asking colleagues for referrals, or contacting local universities and community mental health centers. When evaluating potential clinical supervisors, consider their clinical expertise, whether they have experience with the populations you serve, and if their supervision style matches your learning needs. Schedule consultation calls to determine fit before committing to a supervision relationship.
What are the supervision requirements for social work in DC?
Licensed Graduate Social Workers (LGSW) in Washington DC must complete 3,000 hours of postgraduate supervised experience over 2-4 years, with a minimum of 100 hours of face-to-face supervision from a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). You must receive at least 1 hour of supervision for every 40 hours of clinical work, and you need Board approval for your supervision plan before beginning to accrue hours.
How many LCSW supervision hours do I need in DC?
The DC Board of Social Work requires a minimum of 100 hours of direct supervision from a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker as part of your 3,000 total supervised clinical hours. These supervision hours must be completed over a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 4 years. Regular supervision documentation is required.
Can I do group therapy as part of my supervision hours?
Group therapy provided to clients can count toward your clinical hours if it's within your scope of practice and supervised appropriately. The type of clinical work you can perform depends on your current license level and what your supervisor approves. Discuss with your supervisor which clinical activities are appropriate for your training level.
