Understanding the Developmental Stages in Supervision: How to Support Growth and Potential

When I started as a supervisor, one of the most challenging—and rewarding—things I had to learn was how to meet my supervisees where they were in their journey. You come to supervision with your unique blend of experiences, anxieties, and strengths. Some of you might be new to the field, excited but nervous, while others might already have years under your belt and are looking for more fine-tuning.

One thing I’ve learned over time is that supervision isn’t one-size-fits-all. What works for a brand-new clinician isn’t going to be what someone with ten years of experience needs. So, I use developmental supervision models to guide me—and it’s something I want to share with you because it can make your experience in supervision so much more meaningful and tailored to where you are right now. Let’s explore this together.

What Are Developmental Supervision Models?

The best way I can explain developmental supervision is this: think of it as a process that grows with you. When you’re starting, you’re in what we call the beginner stage. This is when you’re building your confidence, learning the ropes, and probably have a lot of questions (and maybe a little anxiety, too!). I’m here to provide you with the clear guidance you need, give you the support you’re looking for, and help you find your footing.

But as you move forward, your needs will shift. Maybe a year or two into supervision, you find yourself in the intermediate stage—feeling more comfortable, but still needing guidance with more complex cases. At this point, my role changes too. It becomes less about giving you direct answers and more about helping you reflect, trust your judgment, and fine-tune your skills.

And then, as you gain more experience and confidence, you’ll enter the advanced stage. Here, supervision looks more like consulting—you bring your experiences, and we engage in reflective discussions to help you refine your approach. At this stage, you’re largely self-directed, and supervision becomes a space for reflection, growth, and professional refinement.

The Role of the Supervisor in Developmental Supervision

Let me share a quick story to illustrate how my role as a supervisor adapts over time. I had a supervisee, Sarah, who came to me straight out of grad school. When she first started, she needed a lot of structure—understandably so. She was nervous about making mistakes and wanted reassurance that she was on the right track. In those early months, I focused on being more hands-on, offering clear guidance, and helping her build confidence in her decision-making. She needed that structure, and it helped her feel more grounded in her work.

But fast forward a year—Sarah had grown. She started bringing more complex cases to supervision and was becoming more comfortable with uncertainty. That’s when I shifted gears. I started asking her open-ended questions like, “What do you think is going on with this client?” or “How do you feel about the approach you’re taking?” This helped her develop her critical thinking and reflective skills. By the time she reached the advanced stage, supervision looked very different. We were having deep reflective conversations, and she was confident enough to take the lead in her cases.

This shift is the heart of developmental supervision—adapting based on your growth and development.

Supporting Growth: Practical Tips for Supervisors and Supervisees

Now, whether you’re a new supervisee or more experienced, the key is understanding

where you are in your development and being open to the different kinds of support you might need along the way. Here’s how we can make the most of your supervision experience:

1. Assess Where You Are in Your Journey One of the first things I’ll ask when we begin working together is, “Where do you feel you’re at right now?” Whether you are new or have been practicing for years, knowing where you stand helps us create a supervision plan that fits with your goals for supervision. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything being new, that’s okay! We’ll build from there. And if you’re more advanced and want deeper reflection, we can dive right in.

   
   

2. Feedback: The Right Kind at the Right Time Think back to the last piece of feedback you received. Did it help? Was it too vague? In the beginning, you might need more concrete, specific feedback. “Here’s what I would do in this situation,” or “Let’s talk through this step-by-step.” But as you grow, my feedback becomes more about asking you to reflect: “What do you think is working here?” or “Where could you challenge yourself more?” This shift helps you become more autonomous and confident in your clinical decisions.

   
   

3. Reflective Practice: The Core of Growth No matter what stage you’re in, reflective practice is going to be central to your growth. I can’t stress this enough. For those of you just starting, reflective questions might sound like, “How did you feel about the way that session went?” or “What did you notice about your reactions to this client?” As you progress, those questions get deeper: “What patterns do you see emerging in your work?” or “How are your values influencing your clinical decisions?”

   
   

4. Balance Between Support and Challenge I always aim to strike a balance between supporting you and pushing you out of your comfort zone. Sometimes, you might need reassurance, you might need a gentle nudge to try something new or take a different approach. If you ever feel like you need more or less of either, I want you to let me know—that’s how we can keep things aligned with your growth.

   
   

5. Building Confidence and AutonomySupervision isn’t just about solving clinical problems—it’s about helping you develop the confidence to trust your judgment. Over time, I’ll start stepping back so you can take the lead more often. It’s a process, that takes time, but the goal is for you to feel empowered in your decisions and reflective practice.

   
   

A Real-Life Example: Sarah’s Journey Through Supervision

Let’s go back to Sarah’s story. When she reached the advanced supervision stage, our sessions looked very different from when we started. Instead of asking me what to do in specific situations, she began bringing her reflections to the table: “I’m thinking about changing my approach with this client—here’s why,” or “I’m noticing that I’m feeling stuck in certain cases. What do you think that’s about?”

Our supervision had shifted from me offering direct guidance to having reflective, consultative conversations. Sarah had grown into a confident, self-reflective clinician, capable of navigating complex cases with less direct input from me. Watching that growth happen over time is one of the most fulfilling aspects of supervision.

Supervision is all about growth—and it’s not a linear journey. Each of you will move through these developmental stages at your own pace, and my job is to meet you where you are, offering the right kind of support at the right time. Whether you’re just starting or have been in the field for years, the principles of developmental supervision will help you create a supervision relationship that fosters your growth and confidence.

As you embark on your supervision journey, embrace where you are in this journey and stay open to how supervision can evolve with you.