Embracing the Journey: Lessons from Doctor Strange for Pre-Licensed Therapists

Remember Doctor Strange? The brilliant but just a little arrogant surgeon who thought he had it all figured out—until life hit him with a cosmic smackdown? He’s a perfect example of why pre-licensed therapists need to slow down and embrace the journey rather than trying to blast through it like we already know everything. (Spoiler: we don’t.)

Much like Stephen Strange thought he could heal his hands and jump right back into his old life, we often enter the mental health field with that same determination, thinking we’ve got it all figured out. After all, you’ve got the degree, some supervision under your belt, and a passion to make a difference. But here’s where things get real: therapy, like sorcery, isn’t mastered overnight. Therapy is a delicate craft, one that requires years of thoughtful practice, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to growth before we can truly wield it with skill and precision.

I’ve been there. When I started in the mental health field over a decade ago, I thought I had it all sorted out. But it wasn’t until about five years after I was fully licensed (over 10,000 hours invested) that I felt like I had the ground beneath me and could truly wield my craft (and I am still learning every day!) This journey takes time. So let’s look at how we can take some lessons from Doctor Strange and apply them to our own journey as therapists.

The Doctor Strange Syndrome: Thinking You’re Already a Master

At the beginning of his journey, Stephen Strange believed that his brilliance and talent could carry him through anything. Similarly, it’s tempting to think that once you’ve completed your degree and started supervision, you’re basically there. But the reality is, you’re not just checking off hours; you’re in the process of becoming a therapist. And that process can’t be rushed.

Doctor Strange didn’t become the Sorcerer Supreme by cutting corners, and neither will you become a great therapist by fast-tracking your way through supervision. Therapy is about much more than knowledge; it’s about presence, insight, and the ability to meet your clients where they are—even when that means stepping out of your comfort zone.

Why Slowing Down Is Essential

You Learn by Doing, Not by Knowing

Much like Strange had to do magic (not just read about it), you’ll learn to be a therapist by actually practicing therapy. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practice. Yes, supervision can feel repetitive or even annoying when you think you’ve got it all figured out, but it’s where the real learning happens. Every client interaction is an opportunity to develop your skills.

You Need Time to Integrate

Just as Strange had to wrestle with his own ego before he could truly access his power, you’ll need time to reflect on your work and integrate feedback. Real growth comes when you slow down, reflect on your experiences, and figure out what works and what doesn’t.

Humility is the Key to Mastery

Let’s face it—Doctor Strange wasn’t the easiest student. He thought he could brute-force his way to mastering the mystic arts, but his greatest breakthroughs came when he admitted he didn’t know it all. Therapy is much the same. The moment you think you’ve got it all figured out, you’ve closed yourself off from growth.

Practical Tools for Thriving in the Pre-Licensed Phase

So, how can you make the most of this time without feeling like you’re just ticking boxes? Here are some tools to help you slow down and embrace the learning process:

Lean Into Supervision

Supervision isn’t just a formality—it’s your Ancient One guiding you through your growth. Instead of treating it like an obligation, use it as a space to ask questions, explore your uncertainties, and dig deeper into your work. Be open to feedback, and remember, it’s not a critique of you as a person but a tool to help you become a better therapist.

Reflection: After each supervision session, take 10 minutes to jot down what resonated with you. What feedback did you get? How can you apply it? Keep a running log to track your growth over time.

Develop a Growth Mindset

Therapy is one of those fields where the learning never stops, so get comfortable with the idea that there’s always something new to discover. Adopt a growth mindset by viewing challenges and mistakes as opportunities for learning rather than setbacks.

Tool: Keep a “Lessons Learned” journal. After challenging sessions or moments when you feel like you stumbled, write down what happened and what you learned. Over time, this will become a roadmap of your growth as a therapist.

Practice Self-Compassion

No one expects you to be perfect during this phase—just like Strange wasn’t expected to become a master overnight. It’s okay to make mistakes. In fact, you should expect to. Instead of beating yourself up, practice self-compassion. Remember, this is a process, and you’re here to learn, not to be flawless.

Tool: When you catch yourself feeling inadequate, pause and ask: “What would I say to a client in this situation?” Then offer yourself that same kindness.

Embrace the Journey

Doctor Strange’s journey wasn’t just about learning spells—it was about transformation. You’re not just clocking hours to get a license; you’re transforming into a therapist. That transformation takes time, so allow yourself to be present in the process.

Reflection: Take time at the end of each week to reflect on how you’ve grown. What new insights have you gained? How have your interactions with clients evolved? Celebrate the small victories—those are the building blocks of mastery.

Relating to Your Clients

Interestingly, the same principles you’re learning during this phase—patience, self-compassion, and growth—are the ones you’ll pass on to your clients. By fully embracing the process yourself, you become better equipped to help your clients through their own journeys. After all, Doctor Strange couldn’t teach others how to bend reality until he learned to embrace the process himself.

The Parallel Process: Supervision Mirrors Therapy

Much like the relationship between a therapist and their client, the dynamic between a pre-licensed therapist and their licensed supervisor often reflects key elements of the therapeutic process itself. Just as a therapist holds space for their client’s growth and self-discovery, a supervisor creates a space for a pre-licensed therapist to develop their clinical skills, professional identity, and personal style over time.

The Stages of Therapist Development: Growth Over Time

Therapist development unfolds in stages, much like a client’s therapeutic journey. In the early stages, a pre-licensed therapist may rely more heavily on their supervisor, seeking validation, guidance, and reassurance as they navigate the complexities of clinical work. As they progress, they begin to internalize the skills they’ve learned and develop more confidence, autonomy, and trust in their own clinical judgment. Here’s how each stage reflects different dynamics within the supervisory relationship:

1. The Novice Stage: Learning the Basics

In the beginning, much like a client at the start of therapy, pre-licensed therapists often feel uncertain and are still finding their footing. They may rely heavily on their supervisor for direction, seeking step-by-step guidance on interventions, treatment plans, and how to handle difficult clients. At this stage, the supervision process mirrors the therapeutic relationship, where a client relies on the therapist to provide structure and clarity. The supervisor’s role is to offer support, normalize the therapist’s struggles, and help them build confidence in the basics of clinical work.

2. The Intermediate Stage: Gaining Confidence

As the pre-licensed therapist moves into the intermediate stage, they begin to develop more confidence in their clinical skills. They may start to trust their own instincts more and require less direct input from their supervisor, much like a client who begins to take ownership of their own growth in therapy. Supervision during this stage focuses more on refining techniques, processing emotional reactions to clients, and addressing areas of countertransference. Supervisors begin to step back, allowing the pre-licensed therapist to take more initiative while still providing guidance when needed.

3. The Advanced Stage: Independence and Integration

In the later stages, as the therapist approaches licensure, the supervisory process shifts toward fostering independence. The therapist is now integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experience, developing their unique clinical style, and demonstrating a higher level of competence and self-awareness. Just as clients in therapy may start taking the reins of their personal development, therapists in this stage of supervision begin to confidently apply interventions and handle complex cases with more autonomy. Supervisors in this stage focus on offering insight into more nuanced clinical issues, providing mentorship, and helping the pre-licensed therapist transition into full-fledged practice.

The Supervisory Alliance: Building Trust and Safety

In therapy, building trust and safety is the foundation of the therapeutic alliance. Similarly, in supervision, establishing trust is essential for the pre-licensed therapist to feel comfortable sharing their uncertainties, mistakes, and growth areas. A good supervisory relationship allows for vulnerability, fostering an environment where the supervisee can be open about their challenges without fear of judgment. Much like a client must trust the therapist to guide them through their journey, a pre-licensed therapist must trust that their supervisor is there to support their professional growth and development.

Reflection and Self-Insight

In therapy, clients are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and develop deeper insights into their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Likewise, supervision often involves guiding the pre-licensed therapist to reflect on their clinical work—both the successes and the areas for improvement. Just as therapists help clients understand themselves better, supervisors help pre-licensed therapists see their blind spots, develop their clinical intuition, and become more aware of their own process as a therapist.

Navigating Countertransference and Emotional Reactions

Supervision also provides a space for the pre-licensed therapist to explore their own emotional reactions to clients, much like a therapist helps clients navigate their feelings. This can include processing feelings of frustration, inadequacy, or even strong connections with certain clients. Supervisors help pre-licensed therapists recognize and manage countertransference, which mirrors how therapists help clients manage their own emotions in session. In both cases, the goal is self-awareness and the ability to separate personal feelings from the work at hand.

Flexibility and Adaptation

Just as therapists must adapt their approach to fit the unique needs of their clients, supervisors adjust their style to match the learning needs of the pre-licensed therapist. Whether providing direct guidance or allowing space for self-directed learning, supervisors act as flexible guides, much like therapists do with clients. This process of adapting and adjusting to meet the supervisee where they are mirrors the therapist-client relationship, where flexibility is key to growth and progress.

Mastery and the Ongoing Journey

Becoming the Therapist You Were Meant to Be

At the end of Doctor Strange, we see Stephen Strange emerge as a master of his craft—but we know his journey is far from over. He’s not just a surgeon anymore; he’s a sorcerer who can bend reality to protect those in need. Similarly, you’re not just clocking hours toward licensure—you’re becoming the therapist you were meant to be, and that process will continue long after your licensure is complete.

So take a deep breath and trust the journey. You don’t have to know everything right now. The moments of doubt, discomfort, and challenge are the ones that will shape you into the therapist who can truly make a difference. Slow down, lean into the learning, and recognize that mastery isn’t a destination—it’s a lifelong practice.

In the End, It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination

In therapy, as in sorcery, it’s about the journey, not the destination. Mastery isn’t something you achieve one day and hold onto forever—it’s something you continue to cultivate through every challenge, every client, and every hard-earned lesson. And like Doctor Strange, who learned that even the most powerful sorcerers are still students of the mystic arts, you’ll find that there’s always more to learn, more ways to grow, and more ways to help.

And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll look back and realize that the pre-licensed phase wasn’t just a stepping stone—it was the part of your journey that mattered the most.

Embrace the Magic of Therapy

So here’s the final takeaway: Therapy is both an art and a science. It’s structure and intuition. It’s knowledge and creativity. Just like Doctor Strange, you’ll find your balance between the theory you’ve learned and the magic you bring to each session. The pre-licensed phase is your training ground, but the magic you’ll bring to your practice will be uniquely yours.

Lean into the process. Trust your growth. And remember, you’re becoming the therapist you were always meant to be.

Reflecting on Your Journey: Key Takeaways

Questions for Personal and Professional Growth

As you continue on your journey to becoming a therapist, it’s important to take a step back and reflect on how far you’ve come and where you can continue to grow. Supervision and the learning process are not just about gaining skills but about personal and professional transformation. The following reflection questions are designed to help you pause, evaluate your progress, and consider how you can make the most of this unique phase in your career.

1. How do I currently approach my supervision sessions? What can I do to be more open to feedback and growth during this time?

2. In what ways have I experienced the ‘Doctor Strange Syndrome’ in my development as a therapist? How can I embrace more humility in my learning process?

3. What moments in my journey as a pre-licensed therapist have taught me the most? How can I build on these experiences to deepen my practice?

4. How can I practice self-compassion during moments of self-doubt or frustration in my clinical work?

5. What steps can I take to ensure that I’m meeting my clients where they are, rather than imposing my own agenda or timeline?

6. What does ‘slowing down’ look like in my practice, and how can I integrate more reflection into my supervision and client interactions?

Written by Jen Hyatt, a licensed psychotherapist at Storm Haven, Counseling & Wellness in Temecula, California. 

Disclaimers: Doctor Strange and all related characters, elements, and storylines are the intellectual property of Marvel Studios and Marvel Entertainment, LLC. All references to these characters and their stories are used purely for illustrative and inspirational purposes. This blog post is not affiliated with or endorsed by Marvel Studios, Marvel Entertainment, LLC, or their affiliates. All trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional mental health advice.