Supervision Smörgåsbord

In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, host Dr. Tara Sanderson welcomes guest Taylor Kravitz, a queer femme, neurodivergent sex and relationship therapist and founder of Empowered Fulfillment Therapy in Portland, Oregon. Together, they dive into how to best support neurodivergent clinicians in supervision, focusing on dismantling neurotypical and ableist standards, accommodating individual needs, and encouraging authentic self-expression within therapy spaces. The conversation covers practical strategies for adapting “big R” and “little R” rules, modeling self-advocacy, and creating supportive environments for both clinicians and clients. They also discuss healthy boundaries in supervision, the importance of feedback, and building robust support networks and consultation groups for professional growth. The episode wraps up with Taylor Kravitz sharing offerings at her practice, including therapy groups and business coaching for neurodivergent helpers.

In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, host Dr. Tara Sanderson sits down with guest Matthew Verrette, a registered social worker and psychotherapist from Ontario, Canada, whose work seamlessly blends structured cognitive behavioral therapy with the creative world of geek and gaming therapy. Together, they explore how tabletop role-playing games and other forms of media can be intentionally integrated into therapy to enhance engagement and social skills, especially for clients with anxiety and depression. The conversation dives into the importance of "therapy first" when using gaming in practice, the value of supervision in helping new therapists find their own style, and the potential of movies, TV shows, and video games in exposure therapy. Throughout, Dr. Tara Sanderson and Matthew Verrette share their personal geeky passions, reflect on boundaries and use of self in therapeutic relationships, and offer practical advice for therapists and supervisors interested in weaving pop culture and play into their clinical work.

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 SupervisionHello,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_supervisionThe 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 NeriPhD Candidate, Antioch University New EnglandSchool of Counseling, Psychology and Therapy, Relational Therapy Division--Karen A. Neri, JD, MA, LPC, LMFTPhD Candidate in CFTkneripack@antioch.edu

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.

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!