Why Asking Questions Matters More Than Just Giving Advice

Let’s be real—being a clinical supervisor is no small feat. You’re juggling the roles of mentor, evaluator, counselor, cheerleader, and sometimes even a pseudo-therapist for your pre-licensed clinicians (all while probably not getting enough coffee). Just a reminder: supervisors don’t actually “therapize” their supervisees—no matter how much it feels like it when you’re handing out tissues after a rough session. At the core of all these roles is one skill that can set you apart as a great supervisor: the ability to ask thoughtful, open-ended questions.

“Wait, that’s it?” you might be thinking. “Just ask questions?”

Yes, but don’t let the simplicity fool you. Effective clinical supervision is much more than a routine of reviewing client cases or evaluating performance. It is a dynamic, collaborative process that encourages exploration, critical thinking, and self-reflection. When supervisors master the art of asking questions, they create a space where pre-licensed therapists feel safe to explore their internal reactions, consider multiple perspectives, and reflect on how their experiences shape their work.

This blog post dives into why this skill is so essential, offers you a mega-list of questions, and shows how to use these questions to turn your supervision sessions into something that makes pre-licensed therapists say, “Wow, I actually look forward to these meetings.”

So, grab that coffee (or tea if that’s more your jam), settle in, and let’s explore the wonderful world of supervision questions!

Why Bother with Questions? Because Monologues are Boring.

If you’re anything like most supervisors, you probably have a lot of knowledge to share. So why not just, you know, tell pre-licensed clinicians everything they need to know?

Because no one likes a monologue. And more importantly, pre-licensed clinicians don’t learn by being spoon-fed information—they learn by exploring, reflecting, and even sometimes stumbling into their own mini-epiphanies. That’s where your masterful use of questions comes in.

Just as a skilled therapist uses questions to help clients uncover deeper insights and navigate their internal world, supervisors can use questions to guide pre-licensed clinicians on their journey of professional growth. This parallel between the therapeutic and supervisory relationships highlights the power of asking the right questions at the right time.

When you ask a good question, you’re not just filling the silence between client case presentations. You’re:

– Encouraging Self-Reflection: Thoughtful questions help pre-licensed clinicians go beyond the surface and explore what’s really driving their clinical decisions. Plus, it’s a great way to avoid the dreaded “deer-in-the-headlights” look when you ask, “So, what made you choose that intervention?”

– Promoting Critical Thinking: By asking questions that probe deeper, you’re supporting the development of clinical reasoning skills—because “I just had a feeling” isn’t going to fly as a rationale when they’re in front of the board.

– Facilitating Professional Growth: Challenging pre-licensed clinicians to think from multiple perspectives helps them build a professional identity that isn’t a cookie-cutter version of yours.

– Enhancing the Supervisory Relationship: Asking good questions shows that you value their input and experiences. And let’s be honest, it makes supervision way more interesting for both of you.

– Creating Safe Spaces: Intentional questioning can foster a safe and supportive environment where pre-licensed clinicians feel comfortable sharing openly and exploring their vulnerabilities without fear of judgment.

Questions That’ll Make You Look Like the Yoda of Supervision

Let’s channel our inner Yoda for a moment: asking questions isn’t just about gathering information—it’s about guiding your pre-licensed clinicians toward their own insights, much like how Yoda guided Luke to discover his inner Jedi (minus the lightsabers, of course). It’s about becoming a wise mentor who knows that the right question at the right time can spark an ‘aha!’ moment that transforms clinical practice.

“Ready are you? What know you of ready?” might not be a question you’ll actually ask, but taking inspiration from Yoda’s knack for pushing learners out of their comfort zones can go a long way. When you step back and let your pre-licensed clinicians navigate their thoughts, explore different perspectives, and reflect on their experiences, you help them cultivate their own clinical instincts. In other words, you’re the Yoda to their Luke—minus the swamp, frogs, and mysterious caves of darkness.

Reflection & Insight: Going Beyond the Surface

Reflection and insight questions are like the gentle breeze that rustles the leaves of self-awareness. They’re meant to prompt deep thought and inner exploration, uncovering the motivations, biases, and experiences that shape your pre-licensed clinician’s work.

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. What’s a therapeutic approach or modality you’ve recently become curious about and why?

2. What’s one thing you’ve let go of in your practice that has brought you a sense of freedom?

3. Describe a time when your personal experiences influenced your clinical perspective. How did you manage this in session?

4. What’s a professional belief you held strongly at the beginning of your training that has shifted over time?

5. What’s a recent clinical challenge you faced and how did you navigate it?

6. How do you integrate your personal values into your work as a clinician?

7. What’s a piece of advice you would give to yourself when you first started your training?

8. What’s a lesson you’ve learned about the therapeutic process that surprised you?

9. How do you distinguish between intuition and bias in your clinical decision-making?

10. When you reflect on your journey so far, what has been the most rewarding part of being a therapist?

Client Interaction & Session Management: Mastering the Dance of Therapy

Client interactions are where the dance of therapy happens. These questions help your pre-licensed clinicians fine-tune their steps—helping them move fluidly through complex client dynamics.

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. How do you create a welcoming atmosphere for a client who is new to therapy?

2. How do you handle it when a client says they’re not ready to talk about a difficult topic?

3. Describe your approach when a client challenges your perspective or questions your therapeutic approach.

4. What’s one unique intervention you’ve tried recently, and how did the client respond?

5. How do you approach giving feedback to a client who might not be ready to receive it?

6. What do you do when a client doesn’t seem engaged or is resistant to the therapeutic process?

7. How do you navigate cultural differences that may influence how a client engages in therapy?

8. What are some ways you check in with a client who seems to have hit a plateau in their progress?

9. When a client expresses uncertainty about therapy during a consultation, how do you hold space for that?

10. How do you establish rapport and a strong working alliance with your clients, especially during initial sessions?

Personal Identity & Self-Care: Putting on Your Own Oxygen Mask First

We all know the metaphor of putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others. Self-care questions help your pre-licensed clinicians remember to do just that—fostering resilience and healthy boundaries.

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. When you take off your therapist hat, what’s the first thing you notice about yourself?

2. What’s one thing you do for fun that has absolutely nothing to do with therapy?

3. When do you find it most difficult to implement your own self-care strategies?

4. How do you navigate imposter syndrome when it shows up for you?

5. What values guide your decisions to say “yes” or “no” in your personal and professional life?

6. What does a self-care ritual look like for you after a particularly heavy session day?

7. How do you separate your professional self from your personal self when a session hits close to home?

8. How do you balance your therapist role with your personal identity?

9. What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through the process of being a therapist?

10. What does a “balanced life” look like for you, and how do you know when it’s out of alignment?

Professional Development & Growth: Growing into Your Own Clinical Superpowers

These questions prompt your pre-licensed clinicians to reflect on their own development, helping them identify areas of strength and areas for growth.

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. Name one risk you took in a session that you were proud of.

2. What’s a lesson you’ve learned about the therapeutic process that surprised you?

3. How do you approach integrating a new technique or modality into your work?

4. What’s one thing you feel passionate about that you don’t often get a chance to discuss in sessions?

5. What’s a therapeutic skill you’ve been working on refining lately?

6. How do you ensure you stay updated on current trends and research in the field?

7. Describe a time when you felt stuck in your professional growth and how you overcame it.

8. What’s an area of professional growth that you feel excited about exploring next?

9. How do you seek feedback and mentorship to refine your skills and competencies?

10. What would “professional excellence” look like for you, and what steps are you taking to achieve it?

Managing Burnout & Self-Compassion: Supporting the Supporters

Burnout is the shadow that lurks behind the empathetic work we do. Use these questions to help your pre-licensed clinicians recognize burnout and build self-compassion strategies to mitigate its impact.

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. What’s one practice that helps you mitigate burnout when you feel yourself reaching capacity?

2. How do you keep compassion fatigue at bay while staying present and engaged for your clients?

3. What are signs you look for to recognize when you’re approaching burnout?

4. What’s a mantra or affirmation you return to when you’re feeling overwhelmed?

5. How do you replenish your energy after a difficult day of sessions?

6. What’s your approach when you notice you’re becoming emotionally drained from your work?

7. How do you know when you need a break versus needing to push through and persevere?

8. What’s a recent boundary you’ve set to protect your own well-being?

9. What self-compassion practice resonates with you the most, and how often do you use it?

10. How do you remind yourself that you are enough as a therapist, even when you feel uncertain?

Client & Therapist Connection: Strengthening the Therapeutic Bond

The connection between therapist and client is the heart of effective therapy. Supervisors can support pre-licensed clinicians in deepening these connections by exploring how they approach rapport-building, trust-repair, and navigating the complexities of therapeutic relationships. Consider these questions to guide reflection and growth:

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. What does a genuine connection with a client look like and feel like to you?  

2. How do you rebuild trust when you sense a disconnect between you and a client?  

3. What are the qualities of the best therapeutic relationship you’ve ever had with a client?  

4. What’s one question you ask clients to deepen your connection with them?  

5. How do you handle it when a client expresses that they feel misunderstood by you?  

6. How do you maintain boundaries while fostering authentic connection with clients?  

7. Share a time when you felt deeply connected to a client and how it shaped the therapeutic process.  

8. How do you stay grounded and connected when the therapeutic relationship feels challenging?  

9. What does “holding space” mean to you, and how do you ensure it’s present in your sessions?  

10. How do you navigate cultural differences that may influence how a client engages in therapy?  

Competency in Supervisory Practices: Ensuring Effective and Ethical Supervision

Competency in supervision is about more than just having the clinical know-how. It’s about creating a structured, supportive environment where pre-licensed clinicians can grow, make mistakes, and develop their own therapeutic voice. Use these questions to ensure your supervisory practices are top-notch:

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. How do you assess your own competence in providing clinical supervision?  

2. What do you believe is the primary purpose of supervision for pre-licensed professionals?  

3. How do you support pre-licensed clinicians in identifying and addressing their own areas for growth?  

4. How do you incorporate different learning styles into your supervisory practice?  

5. What’s one challenge you’ve faced in supervision, and how did you address it?  

6. How do you manage the boundaries between your supervisory role and the therapeutic work being done?  

7. How do you balance being a mentor, evaluator, and gatekeeper in supervision?  

8. How do you handle it when a supervisee is not receptive to feedback?  

9. What’s your process for setting clear expectations and goals for supervision?  

10. How do you create a safe and open space for pre-licensed clinicians to share concerns or struggles?  

Supervision Framework and Structure: Building the Foundation for Success

Having a well-defined supervision framework ensures that pre-licensed clinicians receive the guidance, structure, and support they need to become competent, ethical, and reflective practitioners. Use these questions to enhance the structure of your supervision sessions:

Sample Questions to Ask:

1. How do you set expectations and goals for supervision with new pre-licensed clinicians?  

2. What’s your process for creating a structured supervision plan tailored to each pre-licensed clinician?  

3. How do you address and resolve misunderstandings about the supervisory process?  

4. What methods do you use to evaluate your pre-licensed clinician’s development over time?  

5. How do you incorporate feedback from pre-licensed clinicians to enhance the supervision experience?  

6. What’s your approach when a pre-licensed clinician struggles to meet supervision expectations?  

7. How do you provide consistency in your supervision style while adapting to the unique needs of each pre-licensed clinician?  

8. What do you see as the most important elements of a successful supervisory agreement?  

9. How do you prioritize what to cover during each supervision session to ensure all key areas are addressed?  

10. How do you structure supervision sessions to balance between case consultation and professional development?  

Comprehensive Supervision Guide: Questions, Responses, and Clinical Relevance

To make your supervision sessions even more impactful, be sure to download our PDF attachment, which outlines all the questions, sample responses, and clinical relevance to take your supervision skills to the next level! This resource will serve as a handy guide during your sessions, providing valuable insights and fostering deeper reflection and growth in your pre-licensed clinicians. 🌟📋

Wrapping It Up: Supervision as a Dialogue, Not a Dictation

Being a clinical supervisor isn’t just about imparting wisdom or making sure pre-licensed clinicians hit all the right notes. It’s about creating a space where pre-licensed therapists can find their own rhythm and build the confidence to use it. By asking thoughtful, open-ended questions, you’re not only guiding them but also inviting them to explore, reflect, and discover what it means to be their authentic professional selves.

Just like in therapy, where the aim is to create a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their inner world, supervision should be a space for pre-licensed clinicians to explore their professional identity. The parallels are clear—both therapeutic and supervisory relationships thrive on dialogue, collaboration, and a shared journey toward growth and understanding.

So, the next time you sit down for a supervision session, think of yourself less as a guide leading them through a pre-mapped route and more like a co-pilot on an exciting journey of clinical growth. Lean into curiosity, embrace the unexpected tangents, and relish those ‘aha!’ moments when your pre-licensed clinicians start connecting the dots in ways that even surprise you. After all, isn’t that what makes supervision so rewarding?

And hey, if you’re still not convinced, just remember this: Good questions are like keys. Each one you ask has the potential to unlock a new layer of insight, creativity, and competence in your pre-licensed clinicians. So, go ahead—turn the key and see what doors open. 

Until next time, happy supervising! And don’t forget, a strong cup of coffee doesn’t hurt either! ☕

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

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered legal or professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult their local licensing boards, governing bodies, and legal counsel to ensure compliance with ethical and professional standards.