In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson chats with Maria Laquerre Diego, a licensed marriage and family therapist known for weaving geek and pop culture into mental health supervision and practice. Together, they explore the power of embracing one's authentic, nerdy self as both a clinician and supervisor, highlighting the value of using pop culture references—like Disney, Star Wars, and superhero stories—to build rapport, create shared language, and break down barriers with both clients and supervisees. Maria Lacare Diego shares creative supervision tools, such as the Infinity Stone intervention and reframing villains’ strengths, encouraging professionals to infuse fun and imagination into therapeutic work. The conversation is lively and thoughtful, offering concrete strategies for promoting authenticity, connection, and creativity in the mental health field.

In this episode of Supervision Smorgasbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson dives into the concept of parallel process in supervision. She explains how supervisors can unintentionally mirror the emotional dynamics between their supervisees and their clients, experiencing unexpected feelings like exhaustion or anger. By naming and addressing these emotions through a relational check-in—the episode's “signature move”—Dr. Tara Sanderson offers actionable strategies for depersonalizing tension and fostering more effective, grounded supervision. She also highlights tools from the Supervision Smart Journal to help supervisors build resilience and navigate the "ghosts in the room," making supervision a deeper, more attuned process.

In this Bonus episode of Supervision Smorgasbord, host Dr. Tara Sanderson sits down with Karen Neary, an integrative relational therapist, supervisor, and doctoral researcher, to dive into Karen's dissertation on cross-ethnoracial supervision among BIPOC supervisors and their supervisees. The conversation explores Karen’s professional journey, the lack of multicultural supervision research, and the urgent need for studies that reflect diverse experiences in the field. Karen details the goals and structure of her study, the importance of participant involvement, and how this work can help disrupt outdated norms in supervision. Both highlight the value of open conversations, mutual learning, and building a stronger, more inclusive foundation for future supervisors and therapists. The episode ends with a call to action for listeners to participate in or share the research opportunity.

RE: Seeking Participants for Dyadic Study on BIPOC Supervisors & their Cross-Ethnoracial Supervisees in Clinical Supervision

Hello,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Karen Neri. I am a doctoral candidate in Couple and Family Therapy at Antioch University New England. In fulfillment of my dissertation requirement, I am conducting a dyadic survey study on BIPOC supervisors and their cross- ethnoracial supervisees in clinical supervision.

I am looking for pairs of supervisory partners who currently work together and are willing to voluntarily participate in this study. This study examines how cultural humility and cultural empathy impact the supervisory working alliance across ethnoracial and/or cultural lines, and how BIPOC supervisors' ethnoracial identity influences these relationships.

Interested participants will access the same survey, complete it independently on their own time based on their supervisory role, and provide their emails so their responses can be linked as a pair.

Would you be willing to support this study by joining or sharing this study and flyer below with colleagues, student therapists/interns, supervisees, or supervisors?

Link to the survey study: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cross-ethnoracial_supervision

The survey will take about 18-24 minutes. Participants are free to stop at any time without consequences and will have the option to enter their email into a drawing to win a $25 gift card for completing the survey.

(Optional) Supervisees or supervisors, if they prefer, may independently complete the survey on their own and contact me directly to send or email the survey study link to their intended supervisory partner.

Thank you in advance for considering.

With gratitude for your help and support,

Karen Andal Neri

PhD Candidate, Antioch University New England

School of Counseling, Psychology and Therapy, Relational Therapy Division

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Karen A. Neri, JD, MA, LPC, LMFT
PhD Candidate in CFT

kneripack@antioch.edu

In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson sits down with Jeremy Sharp, a licensed psychologist and clinical director at the Colorado Center for Assessment and Counseling. Together, they dive into the intricacies of supervision in psychological assessment, touching on the differences between assessment and traditional therapy, the importance of staying current with testing practices, and the challenges of supervising assessment—especially with report writing and balancing clinical judgment with data. They also explore the emergence of AI in assessment, discussing its benefits and limitations, and how supervisors can help trainees develop strong case conceptualization skills while embracing new technologies. The episode is packed with insights about training future psychologists, responsible use of technology, and the evolving nature of diagnostic work in the field.

In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord , Dr. Tara Sanderson kicks off season three with guest Erin Mahone, LPC from Pulse Wellness Cooperative. The conversation dives into topics such as the dilemma of reading books versus watching movies, the importance of ethical self-disclosure in clinical supervision, and the evolving role of supervision in mental health practice. Erin Mahone shares her experiences as a new supervisor, emphasizing the need for intentional self-disclosure to foster safety and connection, both with clients and supervisees. The episode also explores the impact of Oregon’s OHA supervision grant, choosing supervisors who align with personal and professional values, and creating sustainable, supportive practices for clinicians. The dialogue highlights the importance of attunement, consent, and adaptability in supervision, with Dr. Tara Sanderson and Erin Mahone offering insights into building a thriving and inclusive mental health community.

In this solo episode of Supervision Smorgasbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson shares a personal story about falling into the "fix it trap" during a supervision session and explores the impact this has on supervisee growth. She discusses how over-functioning as a supervisor can create dependency, contribute to burnout, and reinforce the idea that therapists must always have the answer. Dr. Tara Sanderson introduces the "rule of three"—a practical technique involving three discovery questions—to help supervisors facilitate reflection and learning rather than immediately offering solutions. She also talks about the Supervision Smorgasbord journal, designed to help supervisors develop greater self-awareness and intentionality in their practice.

In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson welcomes Jamie Watson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, registered play therapist supervisor, and president of the Oregon Association for Play Therapy. The conversation dives into Jamie Watson's journey as a supervisor, her passion for systemic thinking in therapy, and the importance of play therapy when working with children. Together, they discuss challenges and unique requirements of MFT supervision, the value of building a supportive professional community, and the significance of addressing neurodiversity and trauma in child therapy. Jamie Watson also shares insights about ongoing trainings, her podcast, and the importance of embracing curiosity and collaborative learning in supervision.

Welcome back to Supervision Smorgasbord! We had a little hiatus while we figured out a few things and we are back with some incredible interviews and fantastic takeaways!