The training that currently exists for supervisors is pretty basic. You will learn about theory of practice and, if you are lucky, hear a few stories about what to expect. The basics of supervision are to find a supervisory approach that fits you as a person and also supports your supervises learning style. Also, remember to keep your supervised out of trouble!

Help Them Understand the Licensure Process

Many new professionals feel like the application for supervision and licensure to be daunting. Take some time out to coach a newbie through the appropriate paperwork they should be submitting. This will save time later.

Put Your Expectations in Black and White

In addition to the paperwork the state provides to new counseling clinicians, you should prepare a contract of your own for counseling supervision that outlines your expectations of them, what they can expect of you, your pricing for supervision and any other detail about how you operate. Consider this an informed consent document for supervision. It will protect everyone in the long run.

Transform Theory Into Practice

Keep Your Clinical Skills and Administrative Skills Up to Date

Many of the counseling industry professionals are out of date. While you may have extremely valuable clinical skills you can pass down, you have a duty to train our supervisee in up to date note storage and document transmission. This landscape is changing fast! If you are supervising a new therapist but your practice is still in the Stone Age, no offense, hook your newbie up with someone who knows all about new age documentation.

Allow Clinical Observations

Surprisingly, not many clinics and private practices employ observations for new counseling clinicians. By allowing clinical counseling observations you give your underling the opportunity to see what counseling looks like in action. Likely, all they have seen thus far are videos from the 70’s. Allowing them in session with you or other staff will only build their confidence as many new therapists are hyper focused on the list of basic skills rather than basic humanity.

The best mode of observation we have used at Greenway Therapy has been clinical observation by phone call or through zoom. This was the client doesn’t feel like a fish in a bowl. Actually, I even forget the new clinician is even there. What about confidentiality and consent? Well, you can have your client sign a document that gives consent and remind the client that the observing clinician is bound by the same confidentiality that you are. You would be surprised at how many people are okay with observations in their sessions!

Utilize Recordings

Recording sessions seems to fall off after internship ends. I have been guilty of this myself, mainly because recording a session involves more official consent on the part of the client and storage of videos gets tricky. If you can figure out way to store and utilize recordings, do. Recordings give you a sneak peek into how your new therapist is developing and also gets them used to being watched. Recordings can also be used as in-house teaching tools down the road.

Go Above and Beyond Case Management

So many supervisors conduct simple case management in supervisory sessions with their new counseling professionals. While case management is an integral part of supervision, remember to employ education as well. Talk about different therapeutic modalities, read articles and books together, talk about transference and countertransference with your newbies. Make the supervision process something they value and feel comfortable in with you.

Be Direct

I will just say it. Therapists, including supervisors, want to be nice. Much of the therapeutic professional landscape is made up of introverts and do-gooders. The fact remains, you are the front line of defense against allowing a person into the counseling industry that should not be there. It is okay to make them feel uncomfortable for the benefit of the whole community. You are in charge of their development, take charge.

Respect Them for Where They Are at in Their Development

I once had a intern working for me that I fired nearly immediately. When I talked to the school they asked if I understood that this person is an intern and can’t be expected to possess the same skill level as someone who is licensed. I explained to them that he was being let go because he was racist and it is not my job, nor do I think it is possible, to change someones deeply engrained belief systems. He was in need of a severe change in perspective and I wasn’t about to allow my counseling clientele to be his guinea pig.

So, there is a fine line that exists between budding professional and someone who needs a lot more time to develop then what the training process allows. Know that line well and remember there was a time when you were new too.

Allow Them to be Vulnerable

Some of the best conversations I have had with new professionals have been when they are crying and apologizing for being unprofessional. Counselors work knee high in emotional all day every day. We work in client emotions and our own emotions. It takes time to learn how to separate the two and should be part of the training process you must get comfortable with. The emotional conversations is where you will get a very clear picture of where the new therapist is at in their development of confidence, perception and skill.

Don’t Be Afraid to Select the box – “I do no recommend for licensure at this time”

If you need to recommend that someone not become licensed then do it. Regulations vary state to state, obviously, but normally the board will simply extend someones time under supervision for a period of time. Remember, it is your job to make sure you are adding to the professional pool positively.