Clinical supervision isn’t just a checkbox on your journey to licensure—it’s one of the most valuable spaces you’ll ever have for growth, reflection, and, yes, accountability. In this guide, we’ll explore how to make the most of clinical supervision with tips on assertiveness, vulnerability, and showing up authentically. Whether you’re in your first supervision session or approaching the final stretch, this guide will help you fuel your growth and get the most out of every meeting.

Let’s break down what supervision is and is not, why assertiveness matters, and how you can take an active role in steering your professional journey.

What Clinical Supervision Is and Is Not

Let’s start with some clarity. Clinical supervision often carries a haze of misconceptions, half-truths, and assumptions. For starters, supervision is not a therapy session. Yes, your emotional experiences in sessions are relevant, and yes, sometimes you’ll dip into why a particular client dynamic triggered you, but your supervisor isn’t there to unpack your childhood wounds for an hour. Therapy and supervision are cousins, not twins.

Supervision is also not something that just happens to you. It’s not a passive event where wisdom is spoon-fed while you zone out and hope to absorb something useful through osmosis. Nor is it a performance stage. You’re not expected to show up perfectly polished and brimming with profound clinical insights every single week. Supervision is not where you perform; it’s where you grow.

Instead, supervision is a collaborative learning space—a professional partnership where curiosity, humility, and honesty fuel meaningful conversations. It’s also a safeguard, an ethical checkpoint where your clients’ well-being is prioritized while you refine your therapeutic skills. At its best, supervision balances support and challenge, offering a space where you can both celebrate your wins and deconstruct the “oops, that did not land” moments. But most importantly, supervision is a space that you co-create with your supervisor. And if you’re waiting for them to intuit what you need without saying a word, you might be stuck waiting for a long time.

Now that we’ve clarified what supervision is—and isn’t—let’s explore how your role as a supervisee sets the stage for growth.

The Parallel Path: Supervisor as Guide, You as Fuel Provider

Let’s talk metaphors—because, as therapists-in-training, we love a good metaphor. Imagine your supervisor as someone holding a map. They know the general layout of the terrain ahead—the landmarks, the tricky turns, the spots where you might get lost. They’ve traveled this path before, and they’ve helped others walk it too. But, and this is a big but, they can’t—and shouldn’t—walk further ahead than you’re willing to go.

You, on the other hand, are the one holding the fuel. You’re the driver of this vehicle. The map is only useful if the engine is running, and that engine runs on curiosity, questions, and a willingness to engage honestly. It’s your responsibility to bring the tricky client scenarios, the moments where you felt stuck, and the interventions you second-guessed at 3 AM. It’s also on you to name the things you’re avoiding, whether it’s a recurring challenge with a particular client, a fear of confronting conflict, or even the growing suspicion that you might actually like working with couples despite swearing you never would.

Your supervisor can point out shortcuts, offer alternate routes, and give you tools to navigate rough terrain, but they can’t push your car uphill while you sit back scrolling TikTok in the passenger seat. You have to show up with the fuel to keep moving forward.

The Fear of “Looking Incompetent” in Supervision

Naming the Fear

Here’s something few people say out loud: every therapist-in-training worries, at some point, about being “found out.” The fear of looking incompetent is real, and it can keep you from engaging fully in supervision. But here’s the truth—your supervisor expects you to have questions. They expect you to make mistakes. They want you to bring the moments you’re least proud of into the room because that’s where the real growth happens.

Owning the Messiness

Instead of hiding behind polished answers or vague reflections, lean into the discomfort of saying, “I froze in session and I don’t know why,” or “I tried something and it flopped. Can we talk about it?” Supervision isn’t a stage for perfection—it’s a laboratory for learning. Messiness is part of the process.

Taking the Reins: Showing Up Authentically in Supervision’s

Reflect Before Sessions

Taking an active role in supervision starts long before you sit down with your supervisor. Between sessions, take time to reflect. Think about your week—what felt hard, what felt energizing, and what felt downright confusing? If a client session left you feeling stuck, pause and ask yourself what you want to understand better. Reflection doesn’t have to be formal; even five minutes of honest thought can set the stage for a productive conversation.

Engage with Curiosity

When you’re in supervision, show up with curiosity. Ask the questions you’ve been holding back. Say the parts you’re afraid might sound silly. Vulnerability isn’t weakness here—it’s your greatest strength. And if you’re unsure about something, whether it’s an intervention, a theory, or a client interaction, name it. Your supervisor is there to help you navigate those unknowns.

Celebrate the Wins

And don’t forget the wins! Supervision isn’t just about dissecting what went wrong—it’s also about celebrating what went right. Did you set a firm boundary with a client for the first time? Did you try an intervention and watch it land beautifully? Bring those moments into the room. Your growth deserves to be acknowledged.

Navigating Emotional Reactions to Feedback

Feedback can stir up complicated emotions—defensiveness, embarrassment, even shame. You might feel the urge to over-explain, shut down, or dismiss what’s being said. Take a breath. Feedback isn’t an attack; it’s an invitation to grow. If something stings, it’s okay to say, “I’m feeling a little defensive, but I want to understand this better.” Owning your reaction shows emotional maturity and builds trust with your supervisor.

Trusting the Long Game

Supervision is a long game. Some weeks will feel like breakthroughs; others will feel like slogging through mud. But if you show up consistently, with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn, you’ll start to notice subtle shifts—confidence where there was hesitation, clarity where there was confusion, and calm where there was chaos.

Your supervisor has the map. You have the fuel. And together, you’ll navigate this journey.

Reflection Prompts for Your Next Session

As you prepare for your next supervision session, take a few moments to reflect:

☀️ What’s one question I’ve been holding back in supervision?

🌑 Where did I feel stuck in my work this week, and what do I need to unpack?

✨ What’s one win I want to celebrate with my supervisor?

Are you ready to make the most of your next supervision session? Take these reflections into your next meeting and watch your confidence grow.

Take the Wheel. You’ve got this.

Bonus Content

Supervision Resource Kit for Pre-Licensed Therapists

Supervision can sometimes feel like being dropped into a mysterious forest with a guide who occasionally points at trees and says, “Look, growth!” But growth doesn’t happen by accident—it happens with intention, reflection, and yes, a little bit of planning.

That’s why I’ve put together a Supervision Resource Kit for New Supervisees—a practical guide designed to help you show up prepared, curious, and ready to make the most of your time in supervision. Whether you’re stepping into your very first supervision session or you’ve been navigating this forest for a while, this kit is here to help you chart your path.

In this kit, you’ll find tools to reflect between sessions, prepare intentional questions, and track your growth. Because let’s face it: supervision isn’t just about showing up—it’s about showing up on purpose.

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

Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice, clinical supervision, or therapeutic consultation. The content reflects general insights and strategies for engaging in clinical supervision as a pre-licensed mental health professional and may not apply to every individual or supervision relationship. Readers are encouraged to consult their own clinical supervisors, licensing boards, and professional guidelines for personalized advice and direction. The author disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use or application of the information contained in this blog post.