MENTORSHIP
Thank you for your interest! Please fill out the form below if you are: 1) an LMSW seeking supervised clinical hours toward your LCSW in the form of a paid (W2) fee-for-service position; 2) an MSW student seeking a second-year practicum placement; 3) a therapist with another type of license or other professional seeking to hire a supervisor or consultant with a focus on non-mainstream identifications, orientations, and relationships; 4) a therapist seeking AASECT continuing education or supervision; or 5) the director of a group practice seeking a speaker for your supervision group, or an organization seeking a speaker for your event.
My practice business model is based on a subsidization and working-toward-independence model. Subsidization at my practice occurs on multiple levels: higher paying clients subsidize lower paying and pro bono clients; white therapists subsidize reparations to therapists of color/global majority; supervisees subsidize my working with them toward independent licensure and practice. The working-toward-independence model is one that allows someone autonomy and empowerment.
The subsidization model requires a pooling of income that is evenly distributed across operating expenses. Operating expenses includes office expenses and other business upkeep, and paying for my time. This is where subsidization dovetails with working toward independence: When supervisees leave my practice for independent practice—which they have the option of preparing for to the extent they want to under my mentorship—they get a significant bump in income, at the same time that mine significantly decreases. Therefore, the income I make for supervision overall must subsidize the periods of time: 1) while I’m supporting them in building their case load from zero; and 2) after they leave the practice for independence; otherwise my providing mentorship in this way wouldn’t be sustainable for either of us. Enforcing the transfer of clients to therapists remaining at my practice would be more financially stable, but it's unethical to force clients into changing therapists when their therapist leaves to practice independently, and it also feels unethical to force therapists into building a case load from zero again.
This model is a "power with" (mutual empowerment) model as opposed to a "power over" (hierarchical) model. This model is not well-suited for everyone; it is best suited for those who are interested in operating an independent private practice soon after having independent licensure, and who work best without micromanagement. This model also supports my desire to provide mentorship in a way that is tailored to each person's needs and goals, and to provide ongoing opportunities for this type of support, rather than a long-term employment model which, in my opinion, is too often less transparent, and more impersonal and exploitative.
PLEASE NOTE: I will likely have two or three openings for LMSWs in the second half of 2024. I am currently prioritizing interviewing people with a history of sex work—it's always been my dream to facilitate career transitions for sex workers who want to be therapists, given their capacity for emotional labor and their tendency for entrepreneurship, and because that was also my trajectory.
My business name is Dulcinea Pitagora LCSW PLLC, and I am an equal opportunity employer. PGM/BIPOC; transgender/GNC/non-binary and kinky people; and people with a history of sex work are encouraged to apply. Because my practice specializes in working with the most underserved sexuality and gender populations, is anti-racist, and is committed to dismantling white supremacy, qualifications for those I work with must include a demonstrated passion for social justice, and commitment to working with the PGM/BIPOC, the trans/GNC/NB, LGBQ, BDSM/kink, poly/CNM, and sex work communities. As a former sex worker myself, I am particularly inclined to mentor people who have a history of sex work as they become independently practicing psychotherapists. Please see my practice business model for more information and to help decide if you are a good fit for my practice.
I am licensed in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and Colorado. I offer in-person or remote supervision in New York, and remote supervision in the other states.
"Dulcinea has been an incredible supervisor, and support. Their compassionate, consistent, and fair, leadership style helped me to confidently adjust to my role as a psychotherapist in private practice. They also played a significant role in supporting me while I transitioned to my own independent practice. They are a wonderful person to work for, and with."
"I am so grateful for the three years I worked in the brilliant Dr. Pitagora's practice under their supervision. Their clinical skills are exceptional, and their passion and dedication to building and supporting community have a real impact. As a practice owner, they raise the bar for ethical practice standards."
My practice offers benefits including paid time off, a professional development stipend, and 401k matching, and full-time employees also can opt into health insurance reimbursement (ICHRA). There are no non-compete requirements; this means you can work at multiple practices if you want to, and when you leave you take your clients with you (assuming appropriate licensure status). Supervisees of color/global majority can choose to work with one (if part-time) or two (if full-time) pro bono clients of color/global majority and get paid their full fee (i.e., therapist gets paid by practice, client does not pay).
Licensed clinician* pay structure and benefits:
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Licensed clinicians (usually LMSWs) in my practice start out receiving 50% commission of fees received from clients, and they are in charge of deciding what their fees are (I offer consultation on how to figure this out).
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On their 1st anniversary commission increases to 55%.
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On their 2nd anniversary commission increases to 60%.
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On their 3rd anniversary, people usually are close to getting their LCSW and working toward going independent. When people leave my practice, they can take all of their clients with them, which means their income will increase significantly after their 3rd anniversary, so no further increase in commission is offered.
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If someone gets their LCSW prior to their 3rd anniversary, they get an early increase to 60% commission.
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There is no minimum or maximum case load requirements, other than for benefits. For the benefits listed below, full-time is 20+ average client hours per week, and part-time is 10+ average client hours per week.
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The following benefits are available after six months:
- Everyone receives two weeks of paid vacation time off and the equivalent of two weeks paid safe and sick leave (up to 40 hours) per year, regardless of case load, based on average recent income.
- Full-time people receive an professional development stipend of $1000 annually, and part-time people receive $500 annually.
- Full-time people can opt into a health reimbursement account (up to $1000/month) once reaching 20+ weekly clients.
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Therapists of color/global majority receive a form of reparations in the form of paid pro bono, i.e., they are paid their full fee to do pro bono work with clients of color/global majority (therapist is paid by the practice, and client does not pay).
- Full-time BIPOC/PGM can work with two pro bono clients, and part-time BIPOC/PGM can work with one pro bono client.
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Everyone can opt in to our 401k plan, which is matched percent to percent up to 3% and half a percent to percent from 3 to 5% (maximum match is 4% when you contribute 5%).
*Please see the student practicum instruction below for information about student intern compensation.
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I am SIFI-trained to supervise MSW graduate students. I do not regularly take on student interns, but will consider working with a 2nd-year MSW student with the idea that our collaboration is a working interview for continued employment at my practice. Therefore, student interns must meet my qualifications for future employment. As stated above:
Dulcinea Pitagora LCSW PLLC is an equal opportunity employer. PGM/BIPOC; transgender/GNC/non-binary and kinky people; and people with a history of sex work are encouraged to apply. Because my practice specializes in working with the most underserved sexuality and gender populations, is anti-racist, and is committed to dismantling white supremacy, qualifications for those I work with must include a demonstrated passion for social justice, and commitment to working with the PGM/BIPOC, the trans/GNC/NB, LGBQ, BDSM/kink, poly/CNM, and sex work communities. As a former sex worker myself, I am particularly inclined to mentor people who have a history of sex work as they train to become independently practicing psychotherapists. Please see my practice business model for more information and to help decide if you are a good fit for my practice.
I offer case and topic consultation for those not needing signed hours or documentation, but would benefit from my expertise and experience.
I offer bespoke instruction tailored to cover your specific needs.
I have a ~5-meeting (more or less as needed) slide deck ready to go covering TGNC, LGBQ, BDSM, E/CNM, and sex work communities.
Another common consultation conversation is deconstructing harmful normative socialization that can affect sexual functioning in people of every gender and sexual orientation.
I also offer consultation to employers on creating and incorporating anti-exploitative and anti-oppressive practices in your business.
"I really appreciated Dulcinea’s generosity and honesty in our consultation time, and how consistent their guidance was with their values. They willingly shared professional resources they had found helpful, thoroughly answered all of my questions, and enthusiastically encouraged my professional curiosities and ambitions."
"Dulcinea is an incredible resource. I had known for a while that I wanted to start a practice that fit into my value system but I wasn't sure how to practically implement it. There are very few people to consult with who understand the concept of wanting to create a business that isn't focused on making the most money possible. Having Dulcinea as a model has been invaluable. They are incredibly thoughtful and have done so much footwork to figure out how to try to build a more equitable practice. They are also incredibly generous with their resources. I admire them greatly for walking the walk in a system that constantly tells you to "think like a business owner, not a human being." It's hard to do."
I am an AASECT certified sex therapist supervisor (CST-S), and an approved provider of AASECT CEs along with my colleague Dr. Jillien Kahn, CST (under Manhattan Alternative Wellness Collective & Provider # 19-124-M).
You’re welcome to inquire about working with me as your primary supervisor in the undetermined future, though I am currently only available for drop in AASECT supervision (up to 6 meetings, the maximum number for filling out the Certificate for Supervisory Activity of Short Duration form) and CE appointments (unlimited).
As noted above under consultation, I offer bespoke instruction tailored to cover your specific needs.
I have a ~5-meeting (more or less as needed) slide deck ready to go covering TGNC, LGBQ, BDSM, E/CNM, and sex work communities.
Another common consultation conversation is deconstructing harmful normative socialization that can affect sexual functioning in people of every gender and sexual orientation.
"Alex is one of the most talented, thoughtful and community minded therapists and educators I know. They have a wealth of knowledge and expertise that they are eager to share and I have learned so much from them. They are always willing to learn from others and supervision with them is an egalitarian and collaborative process. I wholeheartedly recommend Alex as a therapist, educator or supervisor!"
"Dulcinea is a literal expert in sexuality, alt. relationships, alt. sex and LGBT+ issues. Whether you’re a professional looking to consult on a case or a client looking for a therapist, you will be in knowledgeable and caring hands in your work with them."
Though my psychotherapy clients and supervisees are my first priorities, I am sometimes available to speak to groups at other practices and organizations, as well as at events and conferences. I’m happy to talk about my life and work experience, my research, and I also offer spoken instruction on safer kink practices at community events. Please see my press and publication pages for examples, and contact me with your ideas via the form above or my contact form, or direct email at therapy@dulcineapitagora.com.