Clinical Supervision
A Space to Become
I do not believe supervision is about shaping you into the counselor I would be.
It is about creating the kind of relationship where you can discover the counselor you are becoming.
Supervision is a place to bring your questions, your uncertainty, your good days, your difficult days, and the moments when you leave a session wondering, What just happened in there?
You do not need to have all the answers before you walk through the door.
You just need to be willing to wonder.
A Relationship for Growth
I believe people grow when they feel seen, respected, and safe enough to be genuine. That includes counselors.
My approach to supervision is person-centered, collaborative, curious, and relational. I want supervision to be a place where you can think out loud without having to perform competence or pretend you know something you do not.
I will bring my experience, knowledge, and perspective to our work. I will ask questions. I will offer feedback. I will challenge you when I think it might help.
But I will not assume that my way is the right way simply because it is my way.
You are the person who knows your clients and your experiences best. My role is to help you slow down, look a little more closely, consider what you might not be seeing, and trust yourself as you develop your own clinical voice.
Room to Wonder
Some of the most important moments in supervision begin with a question.
Why did that session feel so different?
Why am I having such a strong reaction to this client?
Did I handle that well?
What am I missing?
What do I do next?
Questions like these are not signs that you are failing as a counselor.
They are signs that you are paying attention and supervision gives us a place to be curious about those questions together.
We will talk about clinical decision-making, case conceptualization, ethics, boundaries, documentation, the therapeutic relationship, countertransference, identity, culture, or the complicated space between what we intend and what actually happens in the counseling room.
No Need to Pretend
I want you to feel comfortable saying:
“I do not know.”
“I think I missed the mark here.”
“I am really frustrated with this client.”
“I am not sure what I am supposed to do here.”
“Something about this does not feel right.”
Those moments do not need to be hidden from supervision. They are often exactly where supervision needs to begin.
I believe good supervision can hold both support and challenge.
You should feel respected without being left unchallenged. You should be able to question yourself without losing confidence in yourself.
There is room to grow without being made to feel like you are not already enough.
What Does a Supervision Session Look Like?
While every supervision session will be a little different, I like to have enough structure that you know what to expect while leaving plenty of room for whatever you need to bring that day.
We Start With a Check-In
We begin by checking in about how things are going, what is happening in your work, and anything you want or need to bring to supervision. We will also identify ethical concerns, high-risk clients, or situations that may need additional attention.
You Set the Stage
When we are ready to review a session or clinical situation, you will tell me what you want to get from the conversation and what you are wondering about. Whether you are thinking about an intervention, a client relationship, or a moment that did not feel quite right, I want to understand what you are looking for before we begin.
We Review Your Work Together
We will review your work together with attention to the things you asked about, usually watching or listening through the session before we pause to talk. We will not stop the recording repeatedly to point out what did not go right, although you are always welcome to pause if there is something you want to explore in the moment. Before we begin talking about the session, I will always ask, “What did you like about what you did today?” because learning to notice your own strengths is an important part of becoming a confident counselor.
We End With Your Question
Before we finish, I will ask, “Did you get the feedback you were looking for today?” The goal is not for me to tell you what to do, but for us to think together so you leave with a little more clarity, a little more confidence, and perhaps a few more questions worth wondering about.
Becoming a counselor is not simply about learning a collection of skills. It is also about discovering who you are when you help create space between another person who is trusting you with their life.
Over time, you will develop your own way of listening, your own way of asking questions, your own way of making meaning, and your own way of being present with clients. Your clinical voice will not look exactly like mine, and it should not. It should sound like you.
My hope is that supervision gives you the space to become more comfortable with that person. To try things, wonder about your work, learn from the moments that feel uncertain, and recognize the strengths you are already bringing into the room.
Not a version of me. Not the counselor you think you are supposed to be.
You.