So, You’re a Therapist… That Must Be Nice, Just Sitting and Nodding All Day

🛋️ Oh, if only it were that simple.

If you’ve been in this field long enough, you’ve definitely heard this before. And if you supervise pre-licensed therapists, you know they’re quickly learning the truth: Therapy isn’t just about nodding thoughtfully and asking, “And how does that make you feel?”

Every single day, therapists are:

✔️ Navigating ethical dilemmas in real-time

✔️ Managing unexpected disclosures (because of course life-altering revelations happen two minutes before session ends)

✔️ Juggling treatment planning, interventions, and documentation marathons

✔️ Balancing compassion fatigue with the absolute privilege of this work

And yet, most supervision models focus on case conceptualization and theory, leaving new therapists woefully unprepared for the unpredictable, beautifully messy moments of actual therapy.

That’s where this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure supervision tool comes in.

Supervision Needs to Be More Than Just Talking About Cases

🚀 Here’s the problem: Pre-licensed therapists are often taught theory but are expected to somehow develop clinical instincts on the fly.

✅ Knowing attachment theory? Helpful.

✅ Memorizing the ACA Code of Ethics? Important.

✅ Deciding what to do when a client drops a bombshell disclosure at 4:59 PM on a Friday?

… Welcome to the deep end, where you’re suddenly in open water with no lifeguard in sight.

Supervision needs to prepare therapists not just for what’s on paper, but for what actually happens in the therapy room.

👥 Enter: A Day in the Life of a Therapist – Supervision Edition. This interactive tool puts pre-licensed therapists in the hot seat, walking them through common-but-challenging scenarios and letting them choose their path forward.

It’s part clinical skill-building, part ethics training, and part “Let’s see how well you can think on your feet.”

Welcome to the Therapy Room – A Sneak Peek at the Adventure

📖 Imagine this: You’ve been in session for 48 minutes. You’ve done solid work today—your client is gaining insight, processing emotions, and making progress. You glance at the clock. Roughly two minutes left.

And then they hit you with this:

⏳ “Oh yeah, something weird happened this week…”

Your nervous system immediately shifts into crisis-assessment mode because this never means something small.

👉 What do you do?

• A. Acknowledge it and say, “Let’s make sure we give this the time it deserves next session.”

(You create a safe container to hold it until next time. It’s a boundary win!)

• B. Ask a few grounding questions before wrapping up.

(They leave feeling heard, and you ensure they have coping tools until next time.)

• C. Internally scream but externally stay calm.

(You nod, but your brain is already spiraling into triage mode. Good luck sleeping tonight.)

• D. Offer a quick reflection and schedule a follow-up sooner if needed.

(You adjust as needed, ensuring they don’t feel left hanging.)

💡 Supervisor Reflection Questions:

• How does time management play into ethical practice?

• What’s the therapist’s responsibility when a client opens something big at the last minute?

• How do we balance client care with maintaining structure?

This is just one of the many real-world situations covered in the guide. And if you’re thinking, “Wow, I wish I had this when I was pre-licensed”—you’re not alone. 

Expanded vs. Condensed Versions: Choose Your Own Supervision Style

👥 This supervision tool comes in two formats so you can tailor it to your needs:

1️⃣ Expanded Version:

• Full context, humor, and detailed discussion points for deep, reflective learning.
• Best for interactive group discussions and newer therapists who need more in-depth processing.

2️⃣ Condensed Version:

• A streamlined approach with key elements, prompts, and takeaways.
• Best for time-limited supervision or quick decision-making exercises.

✨ Bonus Alert! Therapy never follows a script, so I’ve included 10 extra wild-card scenarios to keep your supervisees on their toes. Expect boundary tests, ethical curveballs, and the classic “Wait… WHAT just happened?” moments that every therapist inevitably faces.

How to Use It:

• Pair it with individual or group supervision to help pre-licensed therapists refine their clinical instincts.
• Use it for case consultations to discuss different therapeutic approaches to the same situation.
• Mix & match—use the expanded version for deep dives and the condensed version for quicker check-ins.

Because Therapy is Never “Just Talking”

Supervision doesn’t have to be dry, overwhelming, or purely theoretical.

With interactive tools like this, we can help new therapists build confidence, deepen critical thinking, and prepare for the unpredictability of this work.

Because therapy isn’t just “How does that make you feel?”—it’s an art, a science, and a daily practice in being human with other humans.

🛋️ So, therapists—what would YOU do? Let’s find out.

📥 Wish you had a way to practice real-world therapy decisions? Now you do.

👉 Download the free “A Day in the Life of a Therapist” Supervision Guide!

🔹 Inside, you’ll get:

✔️ Multiple real-world scenarios therapists face daily

✔️ A “Choose Your Own Adventure” format with decision points

✔️ Expanded & condensed versions so you can tailor it to your supervision style

✔️ Supervisor prompts to guide deeper discussion

✔️ A practical, engaging tool to enrich supervision and develop clinical instincts

✔️ Oh, and because supervision never goes as planned, I’ve included 10 BONUS real-world scenarios for even more unpredictable moments.

This isn’t just another case consultation exercise—it’s a dynamic, interactive way to help new therapists build confidence in the moment.

✨ I created this because I wish I’d had something like it during my own early days in the field. So take it, use it, and make it your own. Try it out in your next supervision session and let me know how it goes…

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

This blog post is intended for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the author’s perspectives and experiences as a mental health professional. It is not a substitute for formal training, supervision, or individualized clinical guidance. Therapists are encouraged to consult their own professional resources, supervisors, or peers when applying concepts to their practice.