During my last semester of grad school, I approached a classmate and one of our professors and asked if we could co-present a CEU on supervision. My classmate had gone through a rough supervision experience during her practicum. I'd gone through one too. Between the two of us, we had a lot to say on what not to do as a supervisor.
There was a several-month gap between when I interviewed and when I actually started. By the time my first day rolled around, it became clear they'd forgotten they'd accepted me. No one knew what to do with me. My supervisor sent me to a room to read the employee manual and told me to come find her when I finished.
I finished around lunchtime. I walked out of the room and the building was empty. Turns out the office closes for lunch, and nobody thought to mention that to me. The doors were locked. I couldn't leave. I sat there for 30 minutes waiting for someone — anyone — to come back, and then once they did, it was my turn to go to lunch. My entire first day was basically wasted before it even started.
Toward the end of my time there, I kept asking if I could stay on for the next semester, and I kept getting told yes. Then, just a week before the semester was set to end, I was told no — I'd need to find a new site.
I had about six weeks to interview somewhere new, redo all the paperwork, and start over. It was a nightmare.
After that experience, I made a decision: I was never going to let bad supervision happen to me again. So for my next round, I paid out of pocket for my board-approved supervisor. I was broke at the time — it was genuinely a stretch — but it remains one of the best investments I've ever made in my career.
Here's what I want both future clinicians and current clients to know: a quality supervisor produces a quality therapist. Supervision isn't just a box to check on the way to licensure — it shapes how you think, how you handle hard cases, and how you show up in the room years down the line. Some people don't take the time to find the right match. But when you do, it pays dividends for the rest of your career.
That's exactly why I take supervision seriously now that I'm on the other side of it. If I'm going to supervise someone, I'm invested in their growth — because their growth becomes their future clients' care.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only. While it may offer some therapeutic insight, it is not a replacement for therapy and does not establish a therapist-client relationship. Reading this post does not mean you are under my care. Therapy takes place within a HIPAA-protected, confidential setting tailored to your individual needs — something a blog post simply can't replicate. If you're struggling, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area.