Supervision for Trainee Counsellors: You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out
Supportive, reflective supervision for student and trainee counsellors navigating placement, client work, assignments, training and life outside of counselling.
Starting to work with clients as a trainee counsellor can be exciting and daunting in equal measure. There is something very different about sitting with a real person who is trusting you with something deeply personal compared with discussing counselling theory in a classroom. And then there is supervision.
For some trainee counsellors, supervision can feel almost as anxiety-provoking as the client work itself. You might worry about saying the wrong thing, admitting that you weren't sure what to do, or sharing something you feel you could have handled differently. You might even find yourself carefully choosing what to bring because you're worried about what your supervisor will think of you.
What if they think I'm not good enough? I understand those feelings because I remember them very well myself!
You are learning — and so are we all!
I can vividly remember my first supervision session as a trainee counsellor and the anxieties that accompanied those first many sessions. I wondered what I was supposed to bring, whether I was doing things properly and what my supervisor would think of me. I’d felt more prepared for my first counselling session than my first supervision session!
Looking back, I can see that so much of that uncertainty was simply part of becoming a counsellor. And the truth is, we all are learning, all the time. Becoming an experienced counsellor doesn't mean reaching a point where you know exactly what to do in every situation. We continue to learn, question ourselves, encounter new experiences and develop throughout our careers.
You will have sessions that don't go as planned. You may leave a session wondering whether you said the right thing, your concentration lapsed for a moment or you missed an opportunity. You may struggle to understand a client, feel unexpectedly affected by their story or question something you did afterwards.
That doesn't mean you're a bad counsellor, it’s part of learning. Supervision isn’t another exam! It’s somewhere you can bring the uncertainty, the difficult bits and the questions you don't yet have answers to.
You don't have to bring the polished version of yourself!
I want the trainees I work with to know that they can bring their authentic selves to supervision! Bring the session that felt awkward, the client you're struggling to understand, the moment you're questioning, the feeling you're slightly embarrassed to admit. Bring the session that went so well, the client breakthrough, the meaningful thank-yous.
Perhaps you felt irritated with a client. Perhaps you wanted to rescue them. Maybe you felt particularly attached to someone or found yourself thinking about a client long after the session had ended. These are important things to explore, not things you need to hide.
Trust in supervision takes time, and you may not feel comfortable sharing everything straight away. My role is to create a space where you can gradually feel safe enough to be honest, while also offering appropriate challenge and helping you develop your clinical thinking.
Supervision is about you too
Counselling training doesn't happen in isolation. Alongside client work, you may be managing placement hours, assignments, academic deadlines, employment, relationships, family responsibilities and everything else life brings. I believe supervision should include checking in with how you are doing, not just what is happening with your clients. How are you managing the competing demands of training? Are you putting unrealistic expectations on yourself? Is placement taking more out of you than you expected?
You are not just training to pass a course. You're learning how to sustain yourself in a profession that asks you to be emotionally present for other people.
Walking alongside you as you develop
My approach to supervision is collaborative and person-centred. I draw on the Seven-Eyed Model of supervision, alongside my wider integrative approach, to help us think about your clients, your interventions, the therapeutic relationship, what is happening for you and the wider context around the work.
We'll notice your strengths and build on them, while also identifying the areas you want to develop. Sometimes I'll offer a different perspective, sometimes I'll challenge your thinking and sometimes I'll remind you of something you're already doing well, or think about where you're heading in your future career too.
Your placement, the clients you're working with and the questions you're asking now are all helping to shape the counsellor you will become. Perhaps you already have ideas about the kind of work you'd like to do after qualifying. Perhaps you have no idea yet. Either is completely fine.
Supervision for trainee and student counsellors
I am a qualified clinical supervisor with a Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision, and I have worked as a counsellor since 2016.
I offer individual supervision for trainee and student counsellors who want a space to develop their practice, explore client work honestly and build confidence in their emerging professional identity.
You don't have to have it all figured out before you come to supervision.
If you're looking for a supervisor who will walk alongside you through your training, placement and professional development, I'd be happy to have an initial conversation about what you're looking for.
