Meet anikó blake, lmft

supervisor-in-training

Supervision is beneficial for the direct support given towards clinical work and how the relationship helps you build your voice as a therapist. The most impactful supervision experiences I received as a therapist-in-training were those that guided me in finding a healthy balance of self-critique and confidence in my work. They helped me identify the growth that occurs through both challenging and successful cases: the ones that make you question “Is this therapy?” and those that leave you in awe of the transformation that can occur in just a few sessions. I have found that supervision is the process of helping therapists develop their own style and strengths; the trust a supervisor has in their supervisee can nurture the trust the supervise has within themselves. 

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist trained at The Family Institute at Northwestern University (MSMFT 2017), I value dialogues about the unique challenges of therapy with multiple people in the room. Couples therapy is what brought me to this profession (in fact, I have been interested in the field since I was twelve!) and I feel particular enthusiasm for guiding others who are learning to work in this modality. I have received training in pre-martial therapy and my couples work tends to range from ACT informed to EFT informed - generally with a feminist, humanistic, and existential lens.  

As a passionate play therapist, I enjoy sharing what I have learned to help others strengthen their application of developmentally appropriate therapy for children. This includes building creativity skills, knowing how to utilize tools in the office, and learning how to communicate differently with younger clients. While we can become comfortable with certain approaches as we progress as therapists, I find supervision a useful space to also make sure we are intentionally choosing a treatment plan for each client. 

I hold particular interest in working with supervisees on addressing power in the therapy room. Starting my career as a “younger” therapist, I have experienced plenty of error-activated learning in understanding how my identities impact my clinical work. I have found it meaningful to guide other younger therapists in working through similar challenges and building confidence in their clinical expertise.  

As we progress in our profession, our support needs adapt and change. My effort as a supervisor is to be transparent about what type of support I am offering and to assure that feedback is bi-directional and ongoing. I am excited for this new chapter in my career as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor applicant, and to extend my support to the next generation of therapists.

Anikó can be reached by phone at (773) 242-7276.

Updates from ccrc