What Graduate School Didn’t Teach You About Being a Therapist
By Ashley Charbonneau
Stepping into a therapy role following your graduate program can bring up a lot of feelings-from excitement to anxiety. Perhaps you feel like an imposter, wondering if you really belong in your therapist chair. Or maybe you are unsure how to transition from schoolwork and papers to solely client work. You might be asking yourself how to apply everything you learned in school to practice, or what your graduate program did not teach you.
If this resonates with you, you are not alone. Early career therapists, regardless of previous work experience or phase of life, often feel like they are navigating uncertainty. The good news is, you don’t have to figure everything out by yourself, nor do you have to reinvent the wheel. There are built in supports, such as supervision, consultation, and continuing education to help increase your confidence and skills. In this blog we are going to explore some of the things that graduate school didn’t teach you about being a therapist.
The Importance of Clinical Supervision as a New Therapist
While supervision is a requirement, it can also be a space for learning, growth, vulnerability, and trying new things. This should provide you with a safe place to explore the ongoing application of your clinical skills, in addition to processing your reactions to clients, asking questions, and receiving feedback. It’s okay to admit if you don’t know something or feel overwhelmed.
Supervision can be a place to critically think about ethics and navigate complex clients and situations. What you explore with your supervisor can help you develop your professional identity, strengthen skills, and build a sustainable work-life balance. Over time, your unique style as a therapist will begin to take shape based on developing expertise and specific interests.
Three Tips for Making the Most of Supervision
- Be open to building a strong, honest, and open relationship with your supervisor. Share your uncertainties, even if they feel small or embarrassing. Supervisors expect you to be learning and are there to help navigate thoughts and feelings that come up when working with clients.
- Identify goals and track your growth. Think about what you want to learn while under supervision and how you will know if you are moving towards more autonomous practice.
- Come prepared. Bring specific questions about your work, clients, or agency. Getting feedback from your clinical supervisor and outside perspectives can greatly enhance your professional growth and development.
The Difference Between Clinical Supervision and Clinical Consultation
Clinical supervision for mental health professionals is often time-limited, while pre-licensed and provisionally-licensed therapists are working toward full licensure. Clinical consultation, on the other hand, can – and should – be utilized throughout your career.
Once you are independently licensed, when you come across a new situation, or a client brings something up you have never encountered before, consultation with a trusted clinical supervisor is a great place to start if you need guidance or fresh perspectives. Additionally, having one or two trusted peers can help you avoid isolation and provide reassurance that you don’t have to navigate this work alone.
Joining a clinical consultation group is an option for dialogue, and hearing how other therapists bounce ideas off one another. You can also learn how a colleague might conceptualize a case differently than you, thus providing validation, suggestions, or feedback for your clinical growth. Over the course of your career, clinical consultation can become one of the cornerstones of your practice.
Three Tips for Making the Most of Consultation
- Take time to build your trusted network. Surround yourself with ethical colleagues who share your interests and are invested in your success, but can offer diverse perspectives.
- Be consistent. Schedule regular consultation, whether it is joining a consultation group or an informal check-in with someone you trust. One time only clinical consultations can be useful, but you’ll get the most out of your consultation if you are consistent with it.
- Support others. Share your insights and experiences with colleagues in order to mutually benefit from dialogues. You have extensive knowledge to share, and others will benefit from your expertise, just like you will benefit from theirs.
Continuing Education After Graduation
Getting that master’s degree doesn’t mean that your learning stops. The mental health field is constantly evolving, and clients are always teaching us new things. Continuing education allows you to deepen your skills, discover new therapeutic modalities, and keep up with research and best practices.
Additionally, continuing education can help you manage countertransference, prevent or heal from burnout, and engage in sustainable self-care practices. Workshops, conferences, webinars, and certifications are examples of how to expand your skillset.
Three Tips for Choosing Continuing Education
- Be curious. Don’t just sign up for opportunities that mirror what you already do. Choose topics that excite you or did not get a chance to learn in graduate school.
- Master a modality but be aware of others. We can’t specialize in everything, but we can develop expertise in a certain modality, and we should generally be aware of other evidenced-based techniques.
- Apply what you learn. Try new skills with clients, then reflect in supervision or consultation sessions. The application of knowledge is where continuing education will have a direct impact on your clinical practice.
How We Can Help
If you are at the beginning of your therapy career – we have all been there. While transitioning from student to therapist can feel overwhelming, it is also filled with possibility. At Firelight Supervision, we offer supervision, consultation, and continuing education to help you navigate this new era of your career. Schedule a free 20-minute consultation to get the support you need.
Author Bio
Ashley Charbonneau is a licensed clinical social worker, approved clinical supervisor, and blogger with Firelight Supervision. Ashley supports early-career and experienced therapists in building confidence, navigating clinical challenges, and growing their unique voice as clinicians. She specializes in trauma, addictions, clinical assessment, and supervision that’s rooted in authenticity and ethical care. Follow Firelight Supervision on Instagram and Facebook.
