Which of the following licensures is NOT acceptable for an approved supervisor?

The answer rests on the qualifications required for an approved supervisor in the context of counseling practices in Tennessee. An approved supervisor is typically someone who holds specific credentials, and these credentials must align with the types of supervision provided to interns or associates in the field.

A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and a Licensed Psychiatrist all possess advanced training and experience in mental health that enable them to effectively supervise and guide developing professionals in their practice. Each of these licenses encompasses a breadth of knowledge relevant to psychological health, therapeutic techniques, and ethical standards needed for supervision.

In contrast, a Substance Abuse Counselor, while valuable in addiction treatment contexts, does not have the scope of practice or the comprehensive training required for supervisory roles in general mental health counseling. Their focus is more specialized, concentrating primarily on issues directly related to substance abuse, which may not encompass the broader spectrum necessary for supervising a variety of counseling practices. Thus, that particular licensure does not meet the standard criteria for an approved supervisor in a more general mental health context, making it the correct choice for this question.