Hi, I’m Ashten Gallagher, Ed.D, LCSW-S, BCD.
California Roots, Clinical Excellence: Meet Your Supervisor
For Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASWs) in California, finding a supervisor is about more than just checking a box—it’s about finding a clinical mentor who understands where you are coming from. My connection to California is deeply personal: I was born in Orange County and lived in the state for several years, giving me a firsthand appreciation for the diverse communities and specific needs of California’s families. While I currently operate from Texas, my practice remains firmly rooted in the West Coast as a multi-state Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California.
About the Supervisor
I bring a high level of specialized expertise to our supervision sessions. I am a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work (BCD) and hold a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Community Care and Counseling. My background includes:
Diverse Clinical Leadership: I serve as an Owner and Clinical Director of a multi-state private practice focused on trauma-informed care
Specialized Expertise: I specialize in complex family dynamics, post-divorce attachment, and high-conflict cases.
Military & Crisis Foundations: My early career as a U.S. Army Combat Medic provided me with foundational training in triage, trauma response, and crisis management.
Academic Rigor: As an Assistant Professor, I ensure that my clinical guidance is always aligned with current research and the highest professional competencies.
My goal is to provide you with the high-caliber, board-approved clinical supervision you need to navigate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning with confidence. I’m not just a distant professional; I’m a fellow Californian dedicated to helping the next generation of LCSWs thrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In California, you must accrue a total of 3,000 hours of supervised experience over a minimum of 104 weeks. These hours are broken down into specific categories, including a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical psychosocial diagnosis and treatment, and a maximum of 1,000 hours of non-clinical work (like advocacy or research).
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This is a crucial one! You can count hours earned between graduation and the issuance of your ACSW registration number only if you apply for your registration within 90 days of your graduation date. If you miss that window, you can only start counting hours once your registration is officially approved.
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To count any work hours in a given week, you must receive at least one hour of individual supervision or two hours of group supervision. If you work more than 40 hours in a week, additional supervision may be required to "cover" those extra hours.
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Yes. As of current California regulations, supervision via synchronous videoconferencing is permitted in most settings. However, if you are working in a private practice or a professional corporation, the BBS requires that the first 60 days of supervision be in-person before transitioning to telehealth.
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Ultimately, you are. You should use the BBS Weekly Tracking Logs and ensure your supervisor signs them weekly. I recommend keeping digital backups of everything. At the end of our time together, we will complete the "Experience Verification" form to submit with your clinical exam application.
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Absolutely. The BBS requires a Supervisory Plan to be signed by both the supervisor and the supervisee at the start of the supervisory relationship. This outlines the goals of supervision and ensures the setting meets legal requirements.
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It costs 200 per month, which covers any hours we need to make sure we are meeting all the requirements.
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I think for those wanting to go into private practice, I can tailor my mentorship to that and include a business element. For those who don’t have plans for private practice, it may not be any more beneficial than finding a work based supervisor.