Choosing the Right Clinical Consultant: A Guide for Counselors and Therapists
By Chris Campassi
Being a counselor or therapist is a rewarding but challenging job. You spend your days helping others, but sometimes, you need help too.
That’s where a clinical consultant can be beneficial. A clinical consultant is an experienced therapist who can guide you, offer advice, and help you grow in your career.
But how do you choose the right one? Let’s explore this with four important points: finding the right fit, learning new skills, getting support for burnout, and choosing between individual and group consultation.
Finding the Right Fit
When you’re looking for a clinical consultant or supervisor, it’s like finding a good mentor—you want someone you trust, who understands you, and who makes you feel comfortable. It’s important to find a consultant who has experience in your area of work. For example, if you work with children, you’ll want a consultant who knows a lot about child therapy.
Think about your goals too. Are you trying to improve in a specific area, like trauma therapy or risk assessment? Look for someone who specializes in what you want to learn.
You should also consider the supervisor’s personality. Do they have a teaching style that matches how you like to learn? Meeting with them a few times to see if you click can be very helpful.
Learning New Skills
One of the best things about working with a clinical consultant or supervisor is the chance to learn new skills. No matter how long you’ve been a counselor or therapist, there’s always something new to learn. A good consultant can teach you techniques that you might not know about yet, or help you sharpen the skills you already have.
For example, if you’re a therapist who works with people experiencing anxiety, your clinical supervisor might show you a new way to help clients relax. Or, they could introduce you to new tools for understanding your clients’ needs. Learning new skills not only makes you a better therapist but also keeps your job exciting and fresh.
Utilizing a clinical consultant can also help you develop skills that you may have only recently learned, but still need a lot of support with as you implement these strategies with your clients.
Support for Burnout
As you know, being a counselor or therapist is not easy. You spend a lot of time listening to people’s problems, which can sometimes be overwhelming. This can lead to burnout, a feeling of being tired, stressed, and not caring as much about your work. Burnout is common, but it doesn’t have to last forever.
A clinical consultant can provide support when you’re feeling burnt out. They understand what you’re going through because they’ve been there too. They can help you find ways to manage your stress, give you strategies to stay healthy, and remind you why you love your job. Having someone to talk to who really gets it can make a big difference in how you feel about your work.
Individual Consultation vs Group Consultation
When you’re thinking about working with a clinical supervisor, you’ll want to consider whether individual or group consultation will be most helpful. Or you may decide that both would be best. Both have their benefits, so it depends on what you’re looking for.
In individual consultation, you work one-on-one with a consultant. This can be great if you have specific issues you want to work on or if you prefer personalized advice. It’s like having a private coach who is there just for you.
Group consultation, on the other hand, involves meeting with a clinical supervisor and other therapists at the same time. This setting allows you to learn from the experiences of others.
It can be really helpful to hear how other therapists handle situations that you might face in your own practice. Plus, being part of a group can make you feel less alone in your challenges.
Some therapists like to do both, using individual sessions to focus on personal growth and group sessions to gain different perspectives. You can try each and see what works best for you.
Conclusion
Choosing the right clinical consultant is an important decision for any counselor or therapist. It’s all about finding the right fit, learning new skills, getting support for burnout, and deciding whether you prefer individual or group consultation.
With the right consultant, you can continue to grow in your career, help your clients more effectively, and take better care of yourself. Remember, just as you help others, it’s okay to ask for help too. Having a good clinical consultant by your side can make your journey as a counselor or therapist even more rewarding.
How we can help
If you are interested in Clinical Consultation, check out all of our Team of Supervisors here at Firelight Supervision, and reach out today for a free phone consultation to see who would be a good fit for you!
Author Bio
Chris Campassi is an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) and Program Coordinator of Firelight Supervision. He is a licensed psychotherapist in Colorado and North Carolina, blogger, and clinical supervisor for provisionally-licensed and independently licensed therapists. Chris enjoys helping men, medical professionals, and former athletes manage their anxiety and stress so they can live fulfilled and balanced lives. Follow Firelight Supervision on Instagram and Facebook.
