First-in-Class Clinical Supervision – HeartLand Child & Family Services

Clinical Supervision and Training

Our clinical team is the heartbeat of HeartLand Child and Family Services. We view our role in training the next generation of clinicians, behavioral specialists, advocates and TBS coaches as both a privilege and a responsibility that we take seriously.

Clinicians joining our staff ultimately seeking licensure through the Board of Behavioral Sciences are assured that we are up to date on BBS requirements. Our leadership team ensures that HeartLand offers not only the required two units of supervision weekly but excellent supervision as well. Our BBS supervisory team is composed of two LCSW’s and three LMFT’s, each of whom has extensive experience in both service provision and clinical supervision. Not only is our team well equipped to understand the complexity of clinical work with clients, they are also skilled in forming positive supervisory relationships that foster trust, growth, and enthusiasm.

Our behavioral specialists, advocates and TBS coaches are considered a vital part of our clinical team. At HeartLand, those employed in these adjunctive services meet weekly with supervisors, both individually and in groups, to hone their skills and process clinical concerns.

Our clinical team receives ongoing training in Evidence-based practices such as TF-CBT, ART, PC-Care, QPR Suicide Prevention and AIM High. HeartLand actively seeks out and encourages attendance at external opportunities for skill development. Internal training opportunities are built into the work week for our clinical team. We view these workshops and training events as inspirational for our clinical team, encouraging them toward continuous improvement.

Racial equity, diversity and inclusion is important to us at HeartLand. We honor the voices of our diverse staff and their lived experiences as an integral part of our supervision and training opportunities. We know that learning from peers is a powerful tool and support full inclusion of these voices in our interactions.

If quality clinical supervision is a priority, HeartLand is the place for you!

(Click tab below for Supervisor’s Statement)

Deborah Hicks, LCSW
Todd Palumbo, LMFT
Dennis Hollingsworth, LMFT

Deborah Hicks is a Licensed Clinical Social worker with 33 years of experience in the field of mental health services for a diverse population of children, teens, and adults. Her career as a therapist has encompassed roles in a residential treatment program for adolescents, a children’s day treatment program for early elementary aged children, a children’s outpatient program, a foster family agency, and a school based early intervention program as well as in private practice.

As the Director of Employee and Community Development, Deborah leads HeartLand’s participation in the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Racial Equity Collaborative, coordinating development and implementation of an action plan that focuses on HeartLand’s responsiveness to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Del Paso Heights and Arden Arcade communities. She serves as a member of the Racial Equity Committee under the Coordination of Care Board of Sacramento Steps Forward, an initiative addressing the pressing issue of homelessness in Sacramento. Deborah views her role as a BBS supervisor as a joy and commitment to training the next generation of clinicians. Her goal is to foster a collaborative atmosphere of trust, support and engagement that leads to optimum learning experiences. Cultural humility and sensitivity to equity and inclusion are foundational values in supervisory sessions.

Todd Palumbo, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has been working in community-based mental health for over 30 years as well as working as a psychotherapist in private practice. Starting out as a social worker for an agency in New York City that provided housing support to formerly homeless adults with mental illness, Todd went on to provide counseling and support to youth in foster care and group homes throughout the city. After moving to California, Todd worked with a variety of agencies, along with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, serving youth with mental health needs. Todd moved into leadership roles and led community-based Wraparound teams and served as the Clinical Director of a Partial Hospitalization Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center before joining the team at HeartLand, where is presently the Director of Clinical Services. Todd aims to utilize these many years of experiences to nurture and support the professional growth of therapists new to the field through his clinical supervision and oversight.

In his work as a Clinical Supervisor at Heartland, Dennis Hollingsworth brings knowledge gained over 14 years working in community mental health as well as over five years in private practice. Dennis’ experience encompasses work with infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults, as well as families. Coaching parenting has been a foundational part of his work. During supervisory time, Dennis is always mindful of legal and ethical concerns with an additional focus on exploration of social justice and equality issues. Dennis’ multi-ethnic heritage, including being a descendant of a Native American grandmother of the Blackfoot Tribe, informs his cultural sensitivity. Sessions are respectful, collaborative, inclusive, goal driven, culturally sensitive and fun! Dennis is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified alcohol and drug counselor through CCAPP. He is also certified in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy by the William Glasser Institute.

Deborah Hicks, LCSW: Deborah Hicks is a Licensed Clinical Social worker with 33 years of experience in the field of mental health services for a diverse population of children, teens, and adults. Her career as a therapist has encompassed roles in a residential treatment program for adolescents, a children’s day treatment program for early elementary aged children, a children’s outpatient program, a foster family agency, and a school based early intervention program as well as in private practice.

As the Director of Employee and Community Development, Deborah leads HeartLand’s participation in the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Racial Equity Collaborative, coordinating development and implementation of an action plan that focuses on HeartLand’s responsiveness to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in the Del Paso Heights and Arden Arcade communities. She serves as a member of the Racial Equity Committee under the Coordination of Care Board of Sacramento Steps Forward, an initiative addressing the pressing issue of homelessness in Sacramento. Deborah views her role as a BBS supervisor as a joy and commitment to training the next generation of clinicians. Her goal is to foster a collaborative atmosphere of trust, support and engagement that leads to optimum learning experiences. Cultural humility and sensitivity to equity and inclusion are foundational values in supervisory sessions.
Todd Palumbo, LMFT: Todd Palumbo, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has been working in community-based mental health for over 30 years as well as working as a psychotherapist in private practice. Starting out as a social worker for an agency in New York City that provided housing support to formerly homeless adults with mental illness, Todd went on to provide counseling and support to youth in foster care and group homes throughout the city. After moving to California, Todd worked with a variety of agencies, along with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, serving youth with mental health needs. Todd moved into leadership roles and led community-based Wraparound teams and served as the Clinical Director of a Partial Hospitalization Drug and Alcohol Rehab Center before joining the team at HeartLand, where is presently the Director of Clinical Services. Todd aims to utilize these many years of experiences to nurture and support the professional growth of therapists new to the field through his clinical supervision and oversight.
Dennis Hollingsworth, LMFT: In his work as a Clinical Supervisor at Heartland, Dennis Hollingsworth brings knowledge gained over 14 years working in community mental health as well as over five years in private practice. Dennis’ experience encompasses work with infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and adults, as well as families. Coaching parenting has been a foundational part of his work. During supervisory time, Dennis is always mindful of legal and ethical concerns with an additional focus on exploration of social justice and equality issues. Dennis’ multi-ethnic heritage, including being a descendant of a Native American grandmother of the Blackfoot Tribe, informs his cultural sensitivity. Sessions are respectful, collaborative, inclusive, goal driven, culturally sensitive and fun! Dennis is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified alcohol and drug counselor through CCAPP. He is also certified in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy by the William Glasser Institute.

HeartLand Child and Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value lived experience and have a strong commitment to racial equity, diversity and inclusion. We seek out a work force that reflects the racial, ethnic and cultural diversity of the clients that we serve. At HeartLand, we celebrate the richness that a diverse staff brings to our organization and take pride in providing an inclusive and supportive work environment.

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