Last year I hit a milestone in my career; it had been a decade of sitting across from clients, holding space for their stories, and witnessing countless moments of breakthroughs and emotional healing. Shortly after writing a blog about my learnings during this time, I found myself reflecting on what might come next.

While I remained committed to my counselling work since beginning my Level 4 diploma in 2013, I wasn’t feeling the same excitement about my counselling practice that I once had. I wondered if this was simply a natural feeling to have at this point in my career and personal life. Then my clinical supervisor made a suggestion: “Have you ever considered training as a supervisor? I think you’d be excellent at it.”

Taking the Leap

The idea intrigued me. Training as a clinical supervisor did feel like a natural next step, especially when I found a course that was accessible and covered not just traditional supervision but also the evolving landscape of online counselling and supervision. The possibility of exploring a new dimension of therapeutic work motivated me to sign up.

However, once I’d committed to the training, I found myself in a panic and wondering whether I’d actually be any good at it. Would I have the skills to guide other counsellors effectively? Could I provide the kind of support and insight that supervisees would need? These doubts lingered as I prepared myself for the course to start.

The Challenges Were Real

What I hadn’t anticipated was how demanding the reading requirements would be, particularly in the early stages of the course when it was top-heavy with theory and research. The volume of material that needed to be absorbed between workshops was overwhelming. As someone who is neurodivergent, my brain processes information slower than average, and I found myself struggling to keep up with the pace and quantity of reading expected.

I was very thankful when this eased off towards the end of the live workshops, but then we were hit with the course assignments and I felt overwhelmed all over again! However I was grateful that I could at least do these at my own pace, which despite causing a lot of stress, I managed to submit before the deadline.

The workshop components brought their own anxieties. I often struggle with anxiety around new people and tend to freeze up during observed role plays, the thought of connecting with peers and being watched during practice sessions filled me with dread. The vulnerability required to learn supervision skills in front of others felt quite daunting.

Unexpected Discoveries

What surprised me most was how wrong my fears turned out to be. The connections I made with fellow trainees came more easily than I had anticipated. Instead of feeling isolated by my struggles, I found common ground with others navigating their own challenges. One of these connections has blossomed into a genuine friendship, reminding me that growth often happens when we engage in communities where we feel acceptance and belonging.

But on reflection, maybe the most significant discovery was how much I was genuinely enjoying the supervision itself. There’s something deeply satisfying about sitting with supervisees as they present their client work, helping them facilitate their reflections using frameworks like the seven-eyed model. I love watching the lightbulb moments when a supervisee sees their work from a new angle or gains insight into their therapeutic relationships, or indeed with themselves.

A New Perspective

I expected to feel nervous or uncertain in the supervisor role, instead I found a renewed energy and enthusiasm. The work I’m doing to help other counsellors develop their skills, process challenging cases, and grow in their practice, has brought a fresh perspective to my career that I hadn’t anticipated.

Looking back, I realize that my decade of counselling experience was building on my own practice, but also laying the foundations for this next phase of my life and career. All those years of client work, of navigating therapeutic relationships, of managing my own personal and professional development (with the help of my own supervisors of course), had been building toward something bigger.

For Those Considering the Journey

If you’re a counsellor curious about supervision training or considering a new direction in your practice, I’d encourage you to explore it. Yes, it can be challenging, especially if you have learning differences or social anxieties like I do. But I’ve learned that our lived experiences often become our greatest strengths. My experience of being neurodivergent helps me think creatively and offer fresh perspectives into supervisees and their clients. Whilst my social anxieties make me more attuned to the vulnerability supervisees feel when sharing their work.

Since becoming a supervisor, I’ve discovered new ways to contribute to our field on top of exploring different aspects of therapeutic work, which is something I’m truly grateful for. There’s something powerful about the ripple effect of supervision: by supporting and developing other counsellors, we’re indirectly helping all the clients they’ll work with, creating positive ripples that extend far beyond our direct practice. Career development doesn’t always follow a straight line, and sometimes the most rewarding opportunities come from directions we hadn’t initially considered.

If you’re a counsellor and would like to work with me as your supervisor, please get in touch for a free videocall to see if we’d be a good match.