Counsellors generally come to this work because they want to help.

Sometimes that leads to a sense of pressure that can get in the way of supporting people the way you want to. You might find yourself sitting with clients panicking about what you should do, or leaving sessions feeling anxious and asking ‘what just happened?!’ You care deeply about your clients and want to do a good job, but sometimes wonder whether you’re cut out for this kind of work. You’re constantly thinking about the next training you need to do or book you should read to figure it out. Maybe you’re even scared to talk to other therapists - you don’t want them to find out you don’t know what you’re doing.

A lot of therapists feels this way sometimes - the problem is we don’t talk about it.

Supervision and consultation can help you see through the chaos to feel grounded in your work. Although sometimes you need specialized training to learn more about a particular technique or presenting issue, you also need to slow down and integrate your learning. Supervision can help you approach your work with intention, while developing new skills and building trust in your own capability. It also provides a safe enough space to work through the feelings that come up in session, allowing you to feel more settled and confident. When you’re not stuck in a cycle of shame, you can see where you’re already doing good work and where you have space to grow. You can feel excited about your work, and do work that sustains you.