Clinical Supervision for Trainee Counsellors – My Thoughts – When I first started seeing clients as a trainee counsellor, I found the experience both exciting and daunting. One of the most important things that helped me navigate those early stages was having a supportive and experienced supervisor. The right supervisor can make all the difference—not only in helping you feel more confident, but also in ensuring that both you and your clients feel safe and well-supported.
If you’re currently looking for a supervisor, here are a few things I found helpful.
Start Your Search Early
Before I began my clinical placement, I started researching potential supervisors—this gave me time to find someone whose approach aligned with my values and way of working. I met with a few different people before making my decision, which really helped me feel more confident in my choice. If you leave it too late, you might end up having to settle for someone who doesn’t feel like the right fit, and the whole process can become unnecessarily rushed and stressful.
Prepare for Your First Meeting
Before I committed to working with a supervisor, I made a list of questions and things I wanted to discuss. Everyone’s needs are different, but some of the things I considered included:
- Supervision requirements: How much supervision time does my course require, and can this supervisor offer the hours I need? I learned that not having enough supervision could mean failing the course or having to redo client hours and supervision.
- Availability between sessions: Can I contact them if something urgent comes up between our sessions? Is there a fee for this?
- Paperwork and forms: Will they help with any necessary paperwork, and do they charge for that time or cover it during our regular sessions?
Have a Session Before Seeing Clients
Something I found incredibly helpful was having a proper supervision session before I saw my first client. It gave me the space to talk through my nerves, practice handling confidentiality, and think through how I wanted to structure my sessions. Feeling grounded and supported by my supervisor helped me offer the same sense of safety and containment to my clients. As counsellors, it’s our responsibility to ensure we have the right support structures in place—and that starts with supervision.
I currently offer clinical supervision for both trainee and qualified counsellors. If you’re curious about whether we might be a good fit, feel free to get in touch. You can call me on 07843 813537 or fill in the form on my Contact Page. If I don’t answer right away, I’m probably in session—please leave a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
For more information on supervision, the BACP and UKCP offer some excellent fact sheets and resources:
