Mentorship Program

Program Description

The SCV-CAMFT Mentorship Program facilitates professional development through a structured relationship between an experienced practitioner (mentor) and someone in an earlier career stage (mentee). The program is a complimentary benefit of membership in SCV-CAMFT. Instructions and guidance for participation are included on these pages and in the handbook.

Benefits of Mentorship

Who can benefit from being a MENTOR?
  • Experienced professionals looking to share their knowledge and experience: Some of our core skills as therapists are applicable to mentoring. Mentors can help younger colleagues develop their skills and build their confidence. 
  • Those seeking to develop their leadership and management skills: Mentoring can be a valuable way to enhance leadership skills by guiding and supporting others. 
  • Individuals looking to give back to their community or organization: Mentoring provides an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others and contribute to their success. 
  • Those who want to build and expand their professional network: Mentorship can help mentors connect with new people and build relationships with mentees. 
Who can benefit from being a MENTEE?
  • Those at the beginning of their careers or seeking career changes: Mentors can help with career planning, networking, and navigating the initial stages of their careers. 
  • Individuals looking to develop specific skills or knowledge: Mentors can provide guidance and support in areas where they have expertise, helping mentees gain new skills and knowledge. 
  • Those seeking to expand their network and build relationships: Mentorship can foster connections with like-minded individuals and professionals, expanding their professional and social network. 
  • Individuals facing challenges or obstacles in their professional life: Mentors can offer guidance and support in navigating difficult situations and achieving goals. 
  • Anyone who wants to learn from someone with more experience or expertise: Mentorship provides a unique opportunity to learn from someone who has already achieved success in a particular field or area. 

What is mentorship?

Mentorship is a supportive relationship where a more experienced individual (the mentor) meets regularly with a less experienced individual (mentee) to help them grow professionally. It is a non-hierarchical, collaborative, trust-based relationship focused on the mentee’s goals and development.

Mentorship is Not...

Counseling

Counseling focuses on emotional or psychological challenges using a therapeutic approach. Mentoring is future-oriented and focuses on growth, skill-building, and achieving goals.  

Teaching

Teaching involves imparting specific knowledge or skills in a structured way. Mentoring is less formal, sharing experiences, insights, and advice.  

Coaching

Coaching is typically task-oriented and focused on achieving specific, short-term goals. Mentoring is broader, focusing on long-term development and holistic growth.  

Managing

Managing involves overseeing someone’s work performance. Mentoring guides and supports development without formal authority over them.

How to Participate

A one-year commitment is suggested, with monthly meetings for substantial benefit and completion of established goals. Both parties must keep their commitments and be accountable for their own progress and to each other’s time and effort.

Quick Start Guide

1.   Confirm Your Participation
  • 1.     Log in at www.scv-camft.org, and go to your membership profile by clicking your name.
  • 2.     Scroll down and check “I want to be a mentor” or “I want to be a mentee”.
  • 3.     Complete the mentor or mentee description*.
2.   Select a Mentor or Mentee
 3. Engagement Process
      • 1.     Schedule your first meeting.
      • 2.     Use the mentorship handbook to navigate your mentorship.
      • 3.     Contact SCV-CAMFT if you need assistance.

*It is necessary to complete the mentor or mentee description field in your SCV-CAMFT membership profile to participate. Log in and choose “Edit profile” to locate and complete this task.

Tips for completing the MENTOR description field

Your goal is to provide information to help a mentee determine if you are a good match for them. List areas you are interested in mentoring. You may include particular populations, therapeutic approaches or modalities, starting a private practice, or working with pre-licensed therapists. You may include your current workplace settings and positions, years of experience.

Tips for completing the MENTEE description field

Your goal is to provide information to help a mentor determine if you are a good match for them. Write your professional goals and describe what you hope to achieve through mentorship. Specify at least one SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely) goal. Goals may include areas you want to learn more about, goals for your practice, a certification you want to acquire, or populations you want to work with. 

Examples of SMART goals:

  • By the end of my mentorship, I will have passed the MFT written license exam.
  • By the end of my mentorship, I will have gotten certified at level 2 of IFS
  • Within 6 months, I will have expanded my solo practice to a group practice with at least three other therapists.

Selecting a Mentor or Mentee

Review the Mentor Directory or the Mentee Directory to find a good match. Mentees, mentors, or program coordinators may initiate contact with potential mentees or mentors who match goals, interests, expertise, etc.

Once you find a few matches, contact them via phone or email, and let them know you are interested in working with them. If after two attempts you don’t get a response, contact the program manager or SCV-CAMFT.  Keep in mind emails and voice message can get lost.

Engagement Process

Set a date for the first meeting. The mentee should be prepared with a draft version of one or two SMART goals. In the first meeting, spend some time getting to know one another, and review the goal(s). Set a timeline for the steps you agree will be necessary to achieve the goals, and what the expectations are for both parties. At the end of each meeting, the mentor and mentee should jointly identify what action steps will be needed by the next meeting in order to stay on track toward meeting the goal(s). Agree on a cadence/schedule for future meetings. Once the engagement is confirmed, mentors and mentees sign and submit the Mentor Program Engagement Agreement.  

The mentorship relationship is non-clinical and not covered by HIPAA regulations, but clinical information discussed should be regarded as confidential. Discussions of the mentee’s goals, including the mentee’s progress and mentor’s feedback should also be considered private.

SCV-CAMFT may contact the mentor or mentee during the engagement to check on how the process is going. Evaluation of the program and process may be conducted during the engagement. It is our goal to be in contact quarterly.  Mentors and mentees are encouraged to reach out when support is needed. When the engagement ends, the mentee sends an email to SCV-CAMFT indicating the mentorship has ended.


SCV-CAMFT

P.O. Box 60814, Palo Alto, CA 94306

mail@scv-camft.org

650-308-4809

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