Issue link: http://ncumarketing.uberflip.com/i/1296238
FA L L 2 0 2 0 – I S S U E 6 3 Reo Leslie Jr., D. Min., LPC, LMFT, RPT-S, CAC III, MAC with Dr. Evelyn Leslie, LMFT, RPT-S, CAC III, MAC Tell us about your clinical training/licensure, experience, and current work setting/location. I've 43 years' experience in the field. What I've been doing the past 30 years primarily is directing the Colorado School for Family Therapy. It is a post-degree institute. Dr. Evelyn Leslie, my wife, is the assistant director. We built the school together. It started as a small counseling center 30 years ago, then it grew into a school. We had a COAMFTE- accredited program from 2001 to 2012. I am licensed in three states: Colorado, Hawaii, and Louisiana. I've been teaching, training, and supervising mental health professionals in [Colorado], primarily, but not exclusively, marriage and family therapists. In 1996, I became an approved supervisor with AAMFT, the first African American to get that designation in our state. Currently I'm doing four things that you probably do. I've taught in universities here, in the master's and doctoral level at Argosy before it closed. I direct, in addition to the school, what in our state we call a small donor committee. It's a PAC that's basically financed by graduates and students of my school. We are involved politically in supporting candidates that align with our agenda and priorities. Most recently, I've been involved in external systemic dynamics in terms of legislation. I've written eight bills, two that were passed into law unanimously; unfortunately the other six were not. The fourth thing would be teaching, training, and supervising marriage and family therapists and MFT trainees. Describe your supervision style in three words. Systemic, relational, and person-centered. In the 1980s, when I lived in Southern California, I trained with Dr. Carl Rogers. I was one of the first graduates of the Carl Rogers Institute back in 1985. I learned a lot from him, not only theoretically but personally about how to just focus on the individual and meet them where they are. Having Carl Rogers as a clinical supervisor kind of spoils you for everybody else. (He offered to share some fun stories!) SUPERVISOR SPOTLIGHT One of our clinical administrative team members was able to connect via Zoom with Mr. Leslie and Ms. Skurtu to "interview" them for this Spotlight section. The interview was transcribed and edited to answer our questions. It was a wonderful experience to get to talk through these questions and get a more in-depth look into these supervisors' experiences. Enjoy!