Embarking on your journey as a provisional psychologist is both exciting and challenging. A pivotal component of this journey is your supervision sessions, which are essential for your professional development and a requirement set by the Psychology Board of Australia. Proper preparation can enhance the effectiveness of these sessions and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This guide offers practical steps to help you prepare for your first supervision session.
How to Prepare for Your First Supervision Session: A Guide for Emerging Psychologists
Here are some practical tips to help you prepare for your first supervision session and set yourself up for success.
1. Clarify Your Goals
Before your first session, take some time to reflect on what you’d like to get out of supervision. Are you seeking support with case formulation, intervention strategies, ethical decision-making, or building confidence? Your goals may evolve, but coming in with a few initial areas of focus helps your supervisor tailor the sessions to your needs.
2. Review the Requirements
If you’re undertaking supervision as part of a specific registration pathway or a requirement of your practice registration, make sure you’re familiar with the relevant guidelines and responsibilities. Understanding the expectations around competencies, documentation, and hours will help you and your supervisor stay on track. This will also help you and your supervisor structure your sessions effectively.
The Psychology Board of Australia has helpful resources on the specific requirements for psychologists. Many other national accreditation boards under AHPRA have similar resources and guidelines.
3. Find an suitable supervisor
One of the most important steps in almost any task is finding the right person for the job! Now that you know your goals and clarified your requirements, you can find a supervisor who has experience in the area you are receiving supervision for.
When you’re evaluating potential supervisors, consider factors such as their experience and their current area of practice. It’s also important to ask questions about the cost, the supervisor’s availability, and how the sessions will take place (Zoom or in person).
Be aware that your reasons for supervision will influence who you should pick. For example, the Psychology Board of Australia mandates that board-approved supervisors must oversee all supervised practice pathways leading to general registration. These supervisors are experienced psychologists who have completed Board-approved training in competency-based supervision and maintain approval with AHPRA to act as supervisors.
4. Bring Relevant Documentation
Now you know who you’re seeing and what you’re doing, it’s important to get set up for the first session. Make sure to bring any paperwork you’ve completed so far—such as your supervision plan, logbook, or learning goals. If you’re seeing clients already bring de-identified case notes or summaries. These documents will form the foundation for structured discussions and provide insight into your clinical thinking.
5. Reflect on Your Strengths and Areas for Growth
Your first supervision session is a great time to share a little about your background—your training, experiences, and any particular areas of interest. Being honest about what you find challenging allows your supervisor to provide the support you need. Supervision is a non-judgmental space, so there’s no need to have everything figured out.
6. Be Ready to Talk About Boundaries and Expectations
A good supervisory relationship is built on mutual respect and clear communication. Be prepared to discuss boundaries, preferred communication styles, and how feedback will be given. This helps to set a safe, productive tone from the outset.
Key expectations to discuss include session frequency, whether you can ask questions between sessions, what their timeline is for feedback, and what the supervisor’s expectations are of you.
7. Keep a Reflective Journal
It can be helpful to keep a journal where you jot down questions, challenges, or insights between sessions. This ensures nothing gets lost in the busyness of clinical work and gives structure to your supervision time. This is particularly important if your supervisor isn’t contactable for an extended period of time (i.e., going away on leave).
8. Stay Open and Curious
Remember: supervision isn’t about being perfect—it’s about growing. Come with a learning mindset and don’t be afraid to ask “silly” questions. Chances are, your supervisor has asked those same questions themselves at some point in their career.
Final Thoughts
Your first supervision session marks the beginning of a significant professional relationship. By preparing thoughtfully and understanding the requirements of your supervision, you set the foundation for a rewarding and exciting supervision experience.
At Mindstate Learning, our Board-approved supervisors are dedicated to providing a supportive environment where you can develop the competencies required for general registration. If you’re seeking supervision or wish to learn more about our services, contact us here.
