Becoming an AEDP Certified Supervisor
AEDP Supervisors play an essential role in mentoring and shaping the next generation of AEDP clinicians. Through individual and group supervision, they help therapists deepen their relational and affective capacities while strengthening their confidence and clinical skill.
Becoming an AEDP Supervisor is both a professional achievement and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the AEDP community. Supervisors are grounded in the core principles of AEDP and skillfully guide clinicians in applying the model and facilitating transformation across all four states.
The Supervisor Certification pathway is a two-phase process:
Become a Supervisor-in-Training → Graduate to become an AEDP Certified Supervisor
First Become a Supervisor-in-Training
Supervisor-in-training checklist
Are You Eligible?
Applicants must be AEDP Certified Therapists for at least one year and complete the following requirements within the year prior to applying.
Have You Been an Experiential Assistant?
Assist in at least 1 Immersion & 3 ES1 Modules
Non-English-speaking candidates or those in challenging time zones:
Equivalent assisting hours may be completed through Institute-recognized trainings, supervision groups, or Core Training programs, online or in person, with positive feedback. Contact the AEDP Certification Committee to discuss alternatives if needed.
Have You Met the Reading Requirement?
Read Supervision Essentials of AEDP by Natasha C. N. Prenn and Diana Fosha
This text presents an AEDP model of clinical supervision using videotaped sessions and emphasizes here-and-now interactions, affective resonance, empathy, and transformational learning.
Have You Identified Supervisors of Supervision?
You must identify two Supervisors of Supervision who agree to supervise you through the certification process.
- At least one supervisor must be AEDP Faculty. If the second supervisor is a Certified Supervisor, they must have been certified for a minimum of two years.
- You are encouraged to work with at least one supervisor you have not worked with previously. If not, please explain your reasons in your application.
Your supervisors will:
- Provide a minimum of 10 hours of individual supervision of your videotaped supervision sessions
- Complete and submit the joint application form to Carolyn Fitzgerald, AEDP Administrator
- Evaluate your progress using the AEDP supervision rubric
- Provide honest and supportive feedback
- Assist with preparation and review of you
Complete the Application Submission Process?
Submit your Supervisor-in-Training Application, to Carolyn Fitzgerald, AEDP Administrator responsible for certification.
Your application will be reviewed to verify:
- Experiential assisting hours and participant feedback
- Lead EA letters
- Any required licensing or insurance documentation (if applicable)
Once approved by the Supervisor Certification Review Board, you will be formally welcomed as an AEDP Supervisor-in-Training.
Upon Approval
Upon approval, your name, photo, location, website links, contact information, and professional bio will be added to the Supervisor and Supervisor-in-Training directory listings. We encourage you to create a personalized bio that reflects your professional background, interests, and supervisory style so that potential supervisees can get a meaningful sense of who you are.
Please send your materials to Carolyn Fitzgerald.
Your email will be added to the find a supervisor & Supervisor-in -Training google groups
Important Notes
-Supervisors-in-Training may provide supervision to therapists at any level.
-Up to 10 supervision hours with Supervisors-in-Training may count toward AEDP Level Three requirements. Additional supervision beyond these 10 hours is encouraged for learning and consultation but does not count toward Level Three requirements or Certification.
-Supervisors-in-Training may not serve as Certification Supervisors for Level Three certification candidates
Graduate to an AEDP Certified Supervisor
Certified Supervisor Checklist
Timeframe
Certification as an AEDP Supervisor typically occurs approximately two years after becoming a Supervisor-in-Training, though timing varies depending on individual pace and readiness.
Have You Completed the Experiential Assisting Requirements?
Complete: 1 Immersion, 5 ES1 module & 1 Advanced Skills Module (ASM)
Have You Completed Supervision of Supervision?
Complete a minimum of 20 hours of supervision of supervision, including:
- At least 10 hours with each Supervisor of Supervision
- At least one supervisor must be AEDP Faculty. If the second supervisor is a Certified Supervisor, they must have been certified for a minimum of two years.
- Additional hours may be needed to support certification readiness
Have You Completed an Additional AEDP Activity?
Complete one AEDP-related professional contribution, such as:
- Guest presentation
- Regional engagement
- AEDP research participation
- Writing or publication
- Clinicians’ Corner presentation
- Teaching
- Another AEDP-approved contribution
Written Recommendations
Submit one written recommendation from each Supervisor of Supervision confirming your readiness for certification.
Have You Completed the Culminating Project?
Submit recorded supervision and a microanalysis demonstrating all seven steps of the Certification Rubric
Your AEDP Supervisory Stance should be evident throughout all submitted material. Refer Back to number 1 of the Certification Rubric
The focus of the video is on the Supervisor-in -Training interaction with their supervisee, not so much on the supervisee’s work with their patient. However, the certification video should include SOME video of the Supervisor-in-Training supervisee with their patient, so that the reviewers can get a sense of the work. Please reach out to the review board with any questions
Video Requirements
Submit one or two unedited video clips from one or two supervision sessions. If you submit two different clips, they can be from your work with two different supervisees (so one clip with each supervisee).
- Each clip: 15–25 minutes
- Total viewing time: 30–50 minutes
Recorded therapy material must be included so reviewers can directly observe clinical interventions, moment-to-moment process, and the application of AEDP principles in practice.
Recorded material allows the Review Board to directly observe clinical interventions, moment-to-moment process, and the application of AEDP principles in practice. Supervision based only on supervisee report is necessarily more general and relies on subjective recall of experience, relational dynamics, and attachment themes. Recorded sessions provide the essential basis for an accurate, detailed, and fair evaluation of both supervisory and clinical competence.
Microanalysis Options
Choose one:
- Written Option: A focused 9–10 page, time-stamped transcript and analysis illustrating the seven rubric elements
- This could include selected portions of the analysis that highlight those specific moments seven rubrics and brief contextual notes (e.g., about the supervisee, supervisor, and their working relationship)
- Oral Presentation Option: 60 – 75 minute zoom video recording of an oral presentation where you present your microanalysis of the screen-shared video recorded session(s) to one of your supervisors. (with or without supervisor present in the video)
- Clearly reference and “check off” each element of the Certification Rubric during your discussion. Refer to the section on noting your skills
- If one particular area of the rubric is not fully exhibited in the video, provide an explanation for why it was not in this session and how it was covered in other parts of the supervision process
Have You Completed the Submission Process?
When ready, email Carolyn Fitzgerald at carolynf@aedpinstitute.org , she will send a dropbox link for you to upload the following:
- Culminating Project
- Two recommendation letters
- Updated Experiential Assisting hours
- Original Supervisor-in-Training application
A $300 application fee applies and will be invoiced via Stripe or PayPal.
Review and Certification
The Certification Review Board meets quarterly to review applications. Please review the submission schedule to ensure your materials are submitted on time.
Upon approval, you will:
- Receive an official certificate and letter
- Be announced to the AEDP community
- Be added to the Certified Supervisors webpage
- Be added to the Supervisors Google Group
Advanced Skills Module (ASM) Note
Typically, 10 ES1 assists are required before assisting in an ASM. Exceptions may be considered if earlier participation is needed.
-Michael Mondoro-