When I first started out as a therapist, I had no idea that one day I’d be stepping into a leadership role. Honestly, it wasn’t even on my radar. I was so focused on becoming a good clinician—trying to master the skills, build rapport with clients, and not let imposter syndrome completely overwhelm me—that I didn’t give much thought to leadership. But looking back now, I realize that one of the biggest factors in my professional growth, and the reason I found myself ready for a leadership role, was the supervision I received along the way.
I’ve been lucky enough to have supervisors who understood that supervision isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It’s something that needs to evolve with you as you grow, and that’s exactly what happened for me. Early on, my supervision was more about building the basics: learning how to navigate the therapeutic relationship, understanding the ethical and clinical nuances of therapy, and gaining confidence in my interventions. At that stage, I needed someone to help me develop my clinical skills and give me feedback that was both constructive and encouraging. My supervisor was great at meeting me where I was. We would talk through my cases, and I never felt rushed or judged if I didn’t have all the answers right away.
But as I started to get more comfortable in the therapy room, something shifted. I didn’t need the same kind of hand-holding anymore. What I needed was space to explore my own ideas and challenge myself. That’s when my supervision started to feel more tailored to where I was in my career. Instead of focusing purely on clinical skills, my supervisor began encouraging me to think about the bigger picture. How was I contributing to the team? What kind of therapist did I want to be, not just in terms of my work with clients, but also in the broader field?
That’s when the idea of leadership really started to take shape for me, though at first, I didn’t even recognize it as such. My supervisor would ask questions that pushed me to reflect on my strengths—not just as a clinician, but as a potential leader. “How do you handle difficult dynamics with colleagues?” or “Have you thought about leading a training or workshop for other therapists?” At first, I thought, “Me? Lead? I’m just getting the hang of this!” But the more we talked, the more I started to realize that leadership doesn’t have to look a certain way. It’s not about being the most experienced therapist in the room; it’s about having the ability to guide others, offer support, and share your perspective in a meaningful way.
My supervisor knew exactly how to nudge me out of my comfort zone, without pushing me too hard. Instead of overwhelming me with the idea of taking on a big leadership role right away, she encouraged me to start small. First, it was co-facilitating a team meeting. Then, I led a case consultation group with my peers. And before I knew it, I was presenting at a local conference. Each of these experiences built on the last, and all the while, I had my supervisor there to help me process how it went. She didn’t just focus on the logistics of leading—she helped me tap into the emotional side of it, too. What was it like to step into a position of authority? How did I feel about offering feedback to my peers? Where did I still need support?
It was this kind of personalized supervision that really helped me grow. I wasn’t just learning how to manage clients anymore—I was learning how to manage myself, my emotions, and my professional relationships in a way that would prepare me for a leadership role. My supervisor also encouraged me to start thinking about supervision from the other side. She asked, “What do you think makes for good supervision?” and “If you were in my shoes, how would you support a supervisee who’s feeling stuck?” These conversations planted the seeds for me to eventually take on a supervisory role of my own.
The beauty of tailored supervision is that it allows you to grow at your own pace, while still pushing you to explore new aspects of your professional identity. My journey from student therapist to clinician to leader wasn’t a straight line—it was full of detours, doubts, and moments of uncertainty. But having a supervisor who recognized where I was, and who could adjust her approach as I grew, made all the difference. She didn’t just help me become a better therapist; she helped me become someone who was ready and excited to lead.
Now, when I supervise others, I try to bring that same mindset to the table. I remind myself that each supervisee is on their own unique path, and my job isn’t to give them all the answers or tell them how to do things. Instead, it’s about creating a space where they can explore their own strengths, challenge themselves, and figure out who they want to be as professionals—just like my supervisor did for me. Tailored supervision isn’t just about getting through your caseload or meeting the required hours. It’s about helping each other grow in ways we didn’t even know were possible. And for me, that made all the difference.