Counseling Student Mentorship in Idaho
Mentorship and supervision for counseling students
You’re not alone. Supervision and mentorship can help you grow into a confident, capable counselor. Meet with Katharine Jamison, LCPC, supervisor and mentor for counseling and health sciences students. In-person sessions in Boise near Ann Morrison Park, and online counseling across Idaho, California, and Texas.
Idaho Counseling Student Mentor & Supervisor | Katharine Jamison, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Hi! I’m Katharine.
I’m a licensed clinical professional counselor and registered supervisor in Idaho, supporting counseling students in Boise and statewide. I’m also licensed in California and Texas.
I attended the Counseling Program at Idaho State University (2010–2012), when nearly every faculty member I worked with had served as President of the American Counseling Association. I studied alongside award-winning doctoral candidates and learned so much in graduate school, even when I wasn’t the perfect student! I understand the rigor and ambition it takes to complete a CACREP-accredited counseling program, and I hope to demystify the process for you a bit. Whether you’re at Boise State, Idaho State, or another program, I offer warm, practical mentorship by video to counseling students anywhere in Idaho.
When Graduate School Feels Like a Lot
Counseling programs ask you to show high levels of personal and professional competence while you’re still learning new skills and putting it all together. Many students I work with notice:
Feeling disconnected from faculty, peers, or the program as a whole
Struggling to make sense of the interpersonal dynamics of their program
Trying to balance internship, classes, work, and life
Pressure to have it all figured out before they feel ready
Uncertainty about finishing their plan of study and licensing requirements
Lack of support is one of the main reasons students struggle in counseling programs. You don’t have to do this alone.
How I Support Counseling Students
I provide support, guidance, encouragement, insight, and mentorship to help you flourish. In our work together, we’ll focus on:
• Fostering your growth as a person and professional
• Balancing your work with internship and life
• Adjusting to the process of becoming a counselor
• Navigating complex interpersonal dynamics in your program and at your site
I want to help you successfully complete your program, your plan of study, and your licensing requirements. I’ll encourage you to focus on simply becoming the best counselor you can be, so you enter the job market ready and confident to see paying clients.
Two Ways We Can Work Together
Formal supervision. If your program approves me as your supervisor, our meetings can count toward your practicum or internship requirements. Getting that approval is up to you, and I’m happy to provide whatever your program needs to consider it.
Mentoring and coaching. If you want extra support alongside your program, I can help fill the gaps. This is a great fit if you’re not getting the quality of supervision you need, or you’re in an online program and want more hands-on guidance. We can sharpen your clinical skills, work through licensure hoops, plan ahead for licensure in other states, and get you ready to launch your own practice after graduation.
Learn to Allow for Ambiguity
I can help you accept the gray areas of your program, and we’ll talk about why accepting ambiguity is crucial for counseling and for life. Learning to roll with the punches builds flexibility and adaptability and keeps you from imposing your own biases onto clients. It deepens your self-understanding and your empathy for others, and it encourages creativity in the counseling process. When you take your process one step at a time, you become more effective, more compassionate, and more open-minded, and you’ll be ready to adjust your approach to meet clients’ needs.
What Helps Counseling Students Succeed
Succeeding in a counseling program takes a combination of personal qualities, skills, and resources:
• Resilience: the capacity to cope with stress and adversity when you encounter confusing situations and clients
• Support system: a network of family, friends, colleagues, and mentors
• Supervision and mentorship: access to experienced professionals who help you build clinical skills and navigate the challenges of counseling work
• Self-awareness: the ability to reflect on your own biases, emotions, and limitations
• Interpersonal skills: effective communication, active listening, and conflict resolution
• Self-care: protecting your energy so you avoid burnout and keep a healthy work-life balance
Supervision for Counseling Students Anywhere in Idaho
Whether you’re studying or interning in Boise, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Moscow, Coeur d’Alene, or a smaller community, I can work with you. I offer 1:1 sessions in person at my Boise office or by video anywhere in Idaho, so distance doesn’t have to limit your access to quality supervision and mentorship. Once you graduate and start working toward clinical licensure, I also offer clinical supervision for licensed counselors in Idaho.
Want formal supervision by video? Check with your program first to confirm that video supervision is acceptable for your degree and your practicum or internship requirements. Mentoring and coaching by video don’t need program approval.
What Mentorship Looks Like
Mentorship is the part of counselor training most programs don’t have time for: a steady relationship with an experienced counselor who has been where you are and can help you see the bigger picture. Depending on where you are in your program, we might work on:
• Choosing and preparing for a practicum or internship site
• Making sense of feedback from faculty and site supervisors
• Case conceptualization and treatment planning
• Ethics questions and gray areas you’re not sure how to handle
• Perfectionism, self-doubt, and imposter feelings that show up in training
• Preparing for the NCE
• Planning your first counseling job and your path to the LCPC
• Thinking ahead to private practice
Mentorship vs. Formal Supervision
Formal supervision is tied to your program. It requires your program’s approval, it can count toward your practicum or internship hours, and I coordinate with your site supervisor and faculty.
Mentorship is just for you. There’s no approval process and no hours to log, so we can focus on whatever will help you most, from clinical confidence to career planning. Many students start with mentorship and keep it going through graduation and into their first years as an LPC.
Your Path After Graduation: LPC to LCPC in Idaho
Knowing the road ahead makes graduate school feel less abstract. Here’s how counselor licensure works in Idaho under IDAPA 24.15.01:
• LPC: Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and complete 1,000 hours of supervised experience, including 400 hours of direct client contact, with at least 1 hour of individual supervision for every 20 direct hours. Your practicum and internship may count toward this.
• LCPC: After your LPC, complete 2,000 hours of supervised direct client contact with 1 hour of supervision for every 30 direct hours. At least half of that supervision must be individual, and at least 1,000 of your hours must be supervised by an LCPC.
• Exam: Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
Rules change, so always confirm current requirements with the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL). When you’re ready for your LCPC hours, I offer clinical supervision for LPCs in Idaho.
Trust the Process
You don’t have to navigate counselor training alone. If you’re a counseling or health sciences student in Idaho, reach out with your questions and we’ll talk about what kind of support would help most.
How It Works
1:1 by secure video. You can meet with me from anywhere in Idaho. I don’t offer group supervision.
Monthly subscription. The full plan is $350 a month for up to four 1:1 meetings, plus consultation between sessions. The half-time plan is $175 a month for up to two meetings. Extra meetings are $92 each, and unused meetings don’t roll over.
Payment. Paid monthly, in advance, through a private PayPal subscription link.
Standing meeting time. We’ll set a regular time when you start, so supervision stays consistent.
Tracking hours (formal supervision). You’ll keep a shared spreadsheet of your direct client contact hours, with no client information, so I can review your progress.
Staying connected (formal supervision). I’ll stay in touch with your site supervisor and a faculty contact throughout your placement.
Got Questions?
Let’s Clear Things Up.
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Supervision with me is supportive, practical, and person-centered. We’ll talk through your cases, ethics questions, and the interpersonal dynamics of your program, and I’ll help you build confidence in your clinical skills. Think of it as a place to be honest about what’s hard and get grounded guidance. I meet with students by video, so you can work with me from Boise, Pocatello, Moscow, or anywhere in Idaho.
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If you’re feeling disconnected from faculty or peers, stretched thin by classes, practicum, and life, or unsure whether you’re doing it right, you’re not alone. Graduate school asks you to grow personally and professionally at the same time, and that’s a lot. Many Idaho counseling students reach out because they want a steady, experienced mentor in their corner. You don’t need to be struggling to benefit.
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Yes. As a registered clinical supervisor in Idaho since 2015, I can help you understand the Idaho Board’s licensure requirements, prepare for the NCE now and the NCMHCE later, and plan for your post-graduate hours. When you’re ready, I also provide clinical supervision for licensed counselors working toward clinical licensure in Idaho.
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My background is in academic advising, and my college had the best counseling program around. I was interested in human development and existentialism, which aligned perfectly with studying counseling. I cherished my instructors, and excelled at connecting with clients easily and quickly.
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Yes. What you share with me stays private, and I follow the ACA Code of Ethics. Because supervision is part of your training, I may coordinate with your site supervisor or program faculty, and I’ll always be transparent with you about what is shared and why. Standard limits still apply, such as a serious risk of harm or suspected abuse.
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Only if your program formally approves me as your supervisor. Idaho counts practicum and internship hours when they’re supervised by your faculty or by a site supervisor your university approves. If your program says yes, I’ll provide the documentation it needs.
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You can still work with me for mentoring and coaching. It won’t count toward your supervised hours, but many students find it fills the gaps their program leaves, from clinical confidence to licensure planning.
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The full plan is $350 a month for up to four 1:1 meetings. The half-time plan is $175 a month for up to two. Extra meetings are $92 each. Payment is monthly, in advance, through PayPal.
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Yes. I’m licensed in Idaho, California, and Texas, and I can help you understand what to plan for now so moving your license later goes more smoothly.
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Yes. We can map out what it takes to launch a private practice, from licensure timing to the business basics, so you’re ready when the time comes.
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It depends on your program. Some programs accept video supervision for practicum and internship, and some require in-person supervision. Check with your program before we start formal supervision so your hours count toward your degree. Mentoring and coaching by video don’t need program approval.
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Formal supervision is tied to your program. It needs your program’s approval, can count toward your practicum or internship hours, and includes coordination with your site supervisor and faculty. Mentorship is just for you. There’s no approval process and no hours to log, so we can focus on whatever helps you most, from clinical confidence and ethics questions to career and licensure planning.
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In Idaho, you’ll need a counseling master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited or substantially similar program, a passing score on the National Counselor Examination (NCE), and 1,000 hours of supervised experience, including 400 hours of direct client contact. Your practicum and internship may count toward those hours. Always confirm current requirements with the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL).
Find me at 3350 W Americana Terrace, Suite 100, Boise, ID 83706, conveniently located near Ann Morrison Park. My office is located in the Americana Building along the Boise river, a professional building shared with many counselors and health professionals. Clients appreciate the discreet setting and easy parking. The location is also close to the Boise Greenbelt and Boise River, with beautiful river views and walking and biking paths. It’s easy to reach from Americana Boulevard and offers a peaceful and private environment just minutes from downtown Boise!