Beyond Box-Ticking: Discovering Transformative Clinical Supervision

I remember graduating with my master’s degree, trying to believe I was ready to enter the field and begin my career as a social worker and psychotherapist. Despite years of training and support, I felt lost at sea trying to navigate my new roles and expectations. "Will I ever feel like I know what I'm doing?", “Is everyone this complex?” “Is there a strategy here that I don’t know about?” I remember thinking all these thoughts as a new professional. I learned

I relied on clinical supervision early in my career, and I was fortunate to have mentors who helped further my learning and professional development.

People rarely acknowledge the stress and isolation of entering practice. You balance a caseload, complex client issues, the transition from being a student-learner to the professional in the room, all while managing the persistent voice of imposter syndrome.

Unfortunately, most programs use supervision as a box to check, providing administrative supervision about case notes and documentation, urgent crises with clients or coming vacation planning. This does little to help support your learning, growth and development of your skill set. Clinical supervision shouldn’t feel like another chore; it should be a sacred space where you feel supported, challenged and inspired, unjudged, and free to communicate with honesty and openmindedness. Supervision is not just about fulfilling requirements; it's about building the foundation for your entire career.

Few can expect the complexity that comes with a professional caseload. The nuances of severe anxiety, deep-rooted trauma, and complex relational dynamics may challenge what you’ve learned without the support of an immediate supervisor. Navigating systems, providing reports to insurance companies or courts, and understanding available resources only add stress to new therapists who may not have a full grasp on the interaction of these systems. Supervisors need a breadth of experience and knowledge not only about evidence-based practices, but in the evidence-based process that those practices exist under. Having a firm understanding of the realities of complex and post-traumatic stress disorders, key diagnostic information, an understanding of bio/psycho/social/spiritual perspectives while knowing the art and application of evidence-based models are necessary ingredients for supervisors to have in order to fully support your confidence and development professionally.

The fear of looking incompetent is the number one issue that stunts a new therapist’s growth. If you’re worried your supervisor will judge you, you will not bring them complex cases and will only highlight success stories. You’ll hide your mistakes, those “I don’t know what I’m doing” moments, and the relational dynamics and countertransference that may be affecting you significantly.

True professional mastery can only happen in a space of psychological safety. You must have a supervisor with whom you can be honest. Your “worst” session of the month should be the first thing you want to talk about in supervision. We all have challenging sessions sometimes, those sessions where you question what you said or didn’t say or where the work stirred up unexpected emotions or reactions. What about when a horrific or brutal story unexpectedly surfaces during a session?

The world has transformed radically, and box - checking supervision is no longer adequate. Transformative supervision is mentorship, and it asks bigger questions like:

• How is your caseload affecting you?

• Do you understand how to assess and formulate client problems under the evidence-based process paradigm?

• Can you communicate your formulations professionally with treatment recommendations to other professionals and insurance companies?

• Let's talk about countertransference. What is this client’s story bringing up in you?

• How are you setting limits to prevent burnout?

• What are your long-term career goals? Do you want private practice? Do you want to do more training?

Specialized and supportive mentorship is at the core of my own clinical supervision practices for social workers and psychotherapists in Newfoundland and Ontario, Canada. I provide individual and group supervision for registered social workers and psychotherapists who are completing their licensure requirements and post-graduation support. My supervision practice specializes in helping therapists build deep confidence in their professional capacities in treating:

• mood disorders,

• complex and posttraumatic stress disorders

• developmental trauma

• challenging rational and family dynamics

• formulation and assessment

• using effective and safe use-of-self strategies to manage the relational aspects of therapy

I bring 20 years of experience bridging direct practice, research, training and teaching. My background in providing training to organizations will help integrate practice guidance on building a sustainable career, managing systemic challenges and avoiding burnout.

I believe every therapist needs regular support from the right clinical supervisor. It is about finding a fit in both expertise and personality. I am happy to offer consultations to therapists interested in supervision. It is an easy way for us to discuss your goals, your caseload and whether we would be a good fit for this important work.

If you are a therapist in Newfoundland and Labrador or Ontario, Canada and you’re looking for clinical mentorship, support and supervision, please click here to learn more about my approach and how to connect with me.