Supervisor training with deliberate practice at Sentio

Clinical Supervisor Training: Deliberate Practice Program in California

Sentio University offers a one-year Deliberate Practice Supervision Training Program for licensed clinical supervisors in California and Washington. This is the only supervisor training program in the country that fully integrates video-based feedback, structured skill rehearsal, and routine outcome monitoring into every supervision session. Participants receive 50 continuing education (CE) credits and fulfil the education and practice requirements for DP Coach Certification from the International Deliberate Practice Society.

Apply for the Free Supervisor Training Program

Program at a Glance

Months

Includes foundational training and weekly video-based supervision practice.

CE Credits

For LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs in California. Includes 14 hours in ethics and 6 hours in cultural competency.

Free

Work-Trade Model

No tuition, no fees. Comparable programs charge $2,000 or more.

Hours per Week

2 hours supervising trainees plus 1 hour of group mentoring.

100%

Online via Zoom

All training, supervision, and mentoring conducted remotely.

Certification

DP Supervisor

Fulfils education and practice requirements for the International Deliberate Practice Society.

Open to licensed LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, LEPs, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists in California and Washington State. Learn more about the Sentio MFT Program.

What You Will Learn

✓ Increase skill rehearsal
Learn to structure supervision so that trainees actively practice clinical skills, not just talk about them.

✓ Use video recordings
Learn to use session vides to provide targeted clinical feedback and guide trainees through repeated practice of challenging skills.

✓ Calibrate training to each trainee's zone of proximal development
Learn to assess and adjust the difficulty of exercises so they are neither too easy nor too challenging.

✓ Create Deliberate Practice exercises for specific therapeutic models
Learn to use Deliberate Practice with multiple modalities, including evidence-based treatments and common factors.

✓ Integrate routine outcome monitoring into supervision
Learn how to use session-by-session outcome measures to inform supervision decisions and track trainee development over time.

"What I observed in these DP Sup-of-Sup meetings was not like anything I had seen in supervision before. It was challenging, refreshing, and impactful."

Hanna Levenson, PhD
Professor at the Wright Institute | Fellow of APA Division 29 | Author of APA's Essentials in Supervision video and book series

Dr. Levenson, one of the most published scholars in clinical supervision, attended the Sentio Supervision-of-Supervision meetings planning to observe one or two sessions. She stayed for a year and a half. In her account published in Psychotherapy Bulletin (APA Division 29), she describes nine ways that Deliberate Practice supervision goes beyond traditional supervision, including the use of video to focus on specific observable moments, the emphasis on repeated skill rehearsal rather than abstract discussion, and a "playful vibe" that lowers trainee anxiety and shame. Read the full article

Program Structure: 50+ Hours of Video-Based Supervision Training

The Deliberate Practice Supervision Training Program includes foundational training in the core principles of DP supervision, the Sentio Supervision Model, and the mechanics of video-based feedback, followed by a full year of weekly supervised practice. Participants provide two hours per week of individual, videotaped supervision to MFT trainees who are providing online therapy through the Sentio Counseling Center. Participants also attend one hour per week of group mentoring, during which they receive feedback on their own supervision videos and engage in group DP skill-building exercises. Each participant supervises two trainees who work under their license and is responsible for the standard work of clinical supervision, including evaluations. The total weekly time commitment is approximately three hours. All training and supervision is conducted online.

Continuing Education Credits

Participants in the DP Supervision Training Program may earn 50 continuing education credits across the year.

✓ 14 CE hours in ethics

✓ 6 CE hours in cultural competency

These credits can be applied to the six hours of supervision-specific CEs required by the California BBS for license renewal as well as to non-specific CE requirements.

Sentio University CEs are accepted by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs.

Cost: Free Supervisor Training Through Work-Trade

The DP Supervision Training Program is offered at no cost through a work-trade arrangement. Supervisors provide clinical supervision to Sentio Counseling Center trainees in exchange for advanced training, weekly mentoring, CE credits, and DP Coach certification. There is no tuition, no application fee, and no hidden cost. Most comparable supervisor training programs charge over $2,000 for far fewer hours of instruction and no ongoing mentorship. Sentio's model is free because supervision is integral to Sentio's program, and training excellent supervisors directly benefits the quality of care that clients receive.

Who Leads the Supervisor Training Program

The DP Supervision Training Program is led by two of Sentio's most experienced Deliberate Practice trainers, both of whom are licensed clinicians in California with deep expertise in clinical supervision, video-based feedback, and therapist skill development.

Jason Brand, LCSW is a Senior Deliberate Practice Trainer and Faculty at Sentio University. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California and holds certification in Deliberate Practice Supervision through the International Deliberate Practice Society. Jason received his Master of Social Work with an emphasis in Community Mental Health from California State University East Bay. In his private psychotherapy practice, he specializes in working with couples and men, and he is certified in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy). Jason hosts The Human Nurture Podcast, which explores the learning process of becoming a couples therapist, and facilitates Fathers' Forum, a men's group for fathers of young children. Learn more about Jason at jasonbrand.com.

MacKenzie Stuart, LMFT is a Senior Deliberate Practice Trainer and Faculty at Sentio University. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California who received her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. MacKenzie works with adults, couples, partners, and families, and specializes in nontraditional relationship structures, chronic depression and suicidality, LGBTQIA2-S and GNC/non-binary communities, and psychodynamic case conceptualization. She brings additional expertise in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), narrative and solution-focused interventions, and biofeedback. MacKenzie is also a member of the core faculty at The Wright Institute in Berkeley and leads a private practice in Alameda.

Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD is the President of Sentio University and Executive Director of the Sentio Counseling Center. He is Past-President of the psychotherapy division of the American Psychological Association and the author of over 20 books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training, including The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books). He is a licensed psychologist in California and Washington. Learn more

What Supervisors Say About the Program

"It was the most impactful experience of my career and work as a supervisor."

Lynndal Daniels, PhD · DP Supervision Residency Graduate · Read his full testimonial

"I love the model and wish I'd had the benefit of DP supervision when I was learning 35 years ago!"

Sarah Ackerman, PhD · DP Supervision Residency Graduate

"It has reinvigorated my love for supervision and psychotherapy alike."

MacKenzie Stuart, LMFT · Senior DP Trainer, Sentio University · Read her full article

Why Sentio: Research-Backed, Peer-Reviewed, and Transparent

Sentio University is a nonprofit graduate institution in Los Angeles offering a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy built around Deliberate Practice methodology. The university's faculty are active scholars whose research appears in peer-reviewed journals including Nature and the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Sentio leadership co-edits the APA-published book series The Essentials of Deliberate Practice, which now includes over 16 volumes covering psychotherapy modalities from CBT to psychodynamic therapy to multicultural orientation.

The Sentio Counseling Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing sliding-scale therapy starting at $15 per session to individuals and couples across California. It is the only counseling center in California that fully integrates Deliberate Practice methodology and clinical outcome data into every level of its training and supervision. Every client session is informed by validated Routine Outcome Monitoring data. Every supervision session incorporates video review of real clinical work. And every supervisor completes advanced training in a structured DP supervision model.

What makes this program unique is Sentio's commitment to radical transparency and continuous improvement at every level. Just as Sentio's MFT students receive weekly video-based feedback on their clinical work, supervisors in the training program receive weekly feedback on their own supervision sessions. This parallel process, where everyone from trainees to supervisors to faculty engages in ongoing skill development, is central to what sets Sentio apart from traditional therapist training programs.

Sentio University is also the first graduate program in mental health to formally implement safe and ethical AI training for students and is an affiliate of the International Association for Safe and Ethical AI (IASEAI). The Sentio AI Research Team conducts studies on AI safety in mental health contexts in collaboration with the Digital Safety Research Institute (DSRI) at UL Research Institutes.

Published Research on Deliberate Practice Supervision

The Sentio Supervision Model has been described and evaluated in peer-reviewed publications and professional journals. Supervisors considering this program are encouraged to review the following:

The Sentio Supervision Model

Deliberate Practice Supervision in Action: The Sentio Supervision Model
Journal of Clinical Psychology

The foundational paper describing the seven-step Sentio Supervision Model, including how video review, skill rehearsal, and routine outcome monitoring are integrated into every supervision session.

Deliberate Practice Supervision Series from the Sentio MFT Program
Psychotherapy Bulletin, APA Division 29

The introductory article for a multi-part series in which Sentio supervisors and trainees describe their experiences with the model.

Rethinking Psychotherapy Training and Supervision: The Case for Deliberate Practice

A broader argument for why traditional supervision models need to evolve and how Deliberate Practice addresses their limitations.

Supervisor and Trainee Perspectives

What Deliberate Practice Supervision Has to Offer Traditional Supervision: Nine Take-Home Messages
Psychotherapy Bulletin, APA Division 29

Hanna Levenson, PhD, one of the most widely published scholars in clinical supervision, describes nine ways DP supervision goes beyond traditional approaches after observing the Sentio model for over a year.

A Supervisor's Deliberate Practice Journey
Psychotherapy Bulletin, APA Division 29

MacKenzie Stuart, LMFT, describes her personal transformation as a supervisor after joining the Sentio DP Supervision Residency, from initial discomfort with video review to finding that the model reinvigorated her clinical work.

The Leap Towards Deliberate Practice Supervision

A first-person account of transitioning from traditional supervision to the DP model and the challenges and rewards involved.

Outcomes Research

The "Magic" of Looking at That Score: A Multilevel Investigation of Therapist Review of Client Symptom Measures and Clinical Outcome

Peer-reviewed research demonstrating that therapists who regularly review client outcome data achieve better clinical results, supporting the routine outcome monitoring component of the Sentio model.

Free Training Resources from Sentio University

Even before applying to the training program, licensed supervisors and other mental health professionals can access a growing library of free Deliberate Practice training tools through the Sentio Innovation Lab. Resources include DP exercise instructions and demonstration videos for multiple therapeutic modalities:

Schema Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Motivational Interviewing
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Multicultural Orientation
Therapist Inner Skills

Additional resources include recorded webinars on Deliberate Practice and AI in mental health, and information about the Therapist Throwdown, a live demonstration event designed to normalize showing clinical work and receiving constructive feedback. All Innovation Lab materials are released under an open-source format and are free for use by clinicians, supervisors, and training programs worldwide.

Browse free Deliberate Practice exercises and videos

Frequently Asked Questions About MFT Supervisor Training

What is Deliberate Practice in clinical supervision?
Deliberate Practice is a research-backed training methodology, originally studied by K. Anders Ericsson, that accelerates skill development through targeted repetition, expert feedback, and progressive difficulty calibration. In clinical supervision, DP means moving beyond case discussion to include structured skill rehearsal, video review of therapy sessions, and measurable outcome tracking. The Sentio Supervision Model is one of the first published frameworks for applying DP principles to clinical supervision. Learn more about what Deliberate Practice is and explore the research behind it.

Is the DP Supervision Training Program really free?
Yes. There is no tuition, no application fee, and no cost of any kind. The program operates through a work-trade arrangement: you provide supervised clinical hours to Sentio Counseling Center trainees, and in return you receive 50 hours of advanced training, weekly mentoring, 50 CE credits, and DP Coach certification. Comparable supervisor training programs typically charge more than $2,000 for fewer hours and no ongoing mentorship.

How many CE credits does the program provide?
Participants may receive up to 50 continuing education credits over the course of the year. Weekly one-hour group mentoring meetings each count as one CE credit hour. These credits are accepted by the California BBS for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs, and can be applied to the six hours of supervision CEs required for license renewal as well as non-specific CE requirements.

What are the BBS requirements to become a clinical supervisor in California?
The California Board of Behavioral Sciences requires that supervisors hold an active California license, have practiced for at least two years post-licensure (requirements vary by license type), and complete specific supervision training. Full details are in item #30 (pages 11-12) of the BBS FAQ on supervisor qualifications. The Sentio training program satisfies and exceeds the BBS continuing education requirements for supervisors.

How many hours of supervision training do I need in California?
The BBS requires six hours of supervision-specific continuing education credits per license renewal cycle. The Sentio DP Supervision Training Program provides 50 CE hours across the year, far exceeding this minimum. If you are becoming a supervisor for the first time, additional requirements related to post-licensure experience and training hours may apply depending on your license type.

What is the difference between AAMFT Approved Supervisor and CAMFT Certified Supervisor?
The AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation is a national credential from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy that requires a specific course of study and supervised supervision experience. The CAMFT Certified Supervisor is a California-specific designation from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Both are voluntary professional credentials. Neither is required by the BBS to supervise trainees in California, though many employers and trainees value them. The Sentio DP Supervision Training Program is a distinct program that provides DP Coach certification from the International Deliberate Practice Society, along with CE credits that count toward BBS renewal requirements.

Can I complete the program entirely online?
Yes. All training, supervision, and mentoring sessions are conducted online via Zoom. There is no in-person attendance requirement. You will need a reliable internet connection, a private space for conducting supervision, and comfort with Zoom's screen-sharing and recording features.

What is the weekly time commitment?
During Phase 1 (3 weeks), the commitment is approximately one hour per week. During Phase 2 (11 months), the commitment is approximately three hours per week: two hours of individual supervision with trainees and one hour of group mentoring with Sentio's supervisor trainers.

What credential do I earn upon completion?
Supervisors who complete the full training program receive certification as a DP Coach from the International Deliberate Practice Society. This designation recognizes advanced competency in applying Deliberate Practice methodology to clinical training and supervision.

Who are the supervisor trainers and mentors?
Program mentors are senior Sentio faculty members with extensive experience in DP supervision, clinical training, and published research. Sentio's leadership includes the co-editors of the APA-published Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series and researchers whose work has appeared in Nature, the Journal of Clinical Psychology, and APA Division 29's Psychotherapy Bulletin. Meet the full team on the Leadership, Faculty, and Supervisors page.

Is this program available to supervisors outside California?
The program is currently open to licensed supervisors in California and Washington State. Washington State supervisors must hold an active Washington license. Because CE recognition varies by state, supervisors outside these two states should confirm with their licensing board before applying.

How does this compare to a 15-hour BBS supervision training course?
Most commercial 15-hour supervisor training courses focus on regulatory compliance, ethics, and documentation. They provide the minimum required hours at a cost typically ranging from $200 to $600. The Sentio DP Supervision Training Program provides 50 hours of hands-on training that goes far beyond compliance. You learn a complete, research-backed supervision methodology, practice it under expert mentorship for an entire year, earn DP Coach certification, and receive more CE credits than any comparable program. And it is free.

How do I apply?
Licensed supervisors in California or Washington State can apply by completing the online application form. You are welcome to share this opportunity with colleagues who may be eligible.

How does video-based supervision training work?
In the Sentio model, trainees record their therapy sessions (with client consent) via Zoom. During supervision, the supervisor and trainee watch selected clips together, identify specific clinical moments for improvement, and then engage in live skill rehearsal targeting those moments. This cycle of observation, feedback, and practice is what distinguishes DP supervision from traditional talk-based supervision. During group mentoring, program participants review clips of their own supervision sessions and receive feedback from Sentio's senior trainers, creating a parallel process of continuous improvement at every level.

What is routine outcome monitoring and why does it matter for supervision?
Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) uses validated questionnaires administered to clients at every session to track symptom change over time. In the Sentio model, supervisors use ROM data to identify which clients are improving, which are stuck, and which are deteriorating. This allows supervision to be targeted and data-informed rather than relying solely on the trainee's verbal report. Research consistently shows that therapists who review outcome data have better client outcomes. The DP Supervision Training Program teaches supervisors how to integrate ROM into their supervision workflow.

Can I use these CE credits for my BBS license renewal?
Yes. Sentio University CEs are accepted by the California BBS. They can be applied to the six hours of supervision-specific CEs required for license renewal and also to non-specific CE requirements. These CEs are valid for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. They are not accepted for psychologists or psychiatrists, and regulatory agencies outside California may not recognize them.