Working in private practice as an LAC. Good supervision and introspective work are essential for all counselors.

As counselors, we encourage clients to explore their thoughts and beliefs. We sit with them and hold space for their emotions and explore deeper meaning. How often do we give ourselves the same opportunity?

Introspective work is the exploration and discovery of our own thoughts, feelings, and motivations. It is the deeper understanding of the thoughts and beliefs we hold. It is a deeper understanding of the feelings that come up for us (as counselors) in session, why they come up, and how to manage them. It helps us know and understand our biases in a clinical context and how to productively use this.

There are many types and models of supervision. We won’t get into all of them here. However, I do want to highlight that there is a crucial difference between a supervisor who gives advice and does not encourage exploration of the counselor’s feelings versus one who encourages the exploration of beliefs and emotions related to clinical work. It is important to find a supervisor who encourages you to explore the beliefs and feelings that come up as a counselor providing clinical services. This is also true of clinical consultation if you’re an LPC. Exploration of feelings and beliefs leads to increased self- awareness.

Here are 5 important reasons every counselor (new or seasoned) should engage in regular introspective growth.

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1. Self-awareness is the foundation of effective counseling.

Increased self-awareness leads to a deeper understanding of ourselves. Be honest in supervision, if a thought or feeling comes up in session, make note of it and explore this in your supervision session. This introspection and process promotes personal and professional growth. It improves the skill of the counselor and the care of the client. This is critical to becoming a more aware, more effective, and more ethical therapist.

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2. Helps manage countertransference.

Countertransference is the projection of the counselors’ unresolved feelings onto a client. If we are not aware of this, this can hinder the therapeutic process. It is important to explore uncomfortable feelings in supervision. When we are aware of our thoughts and feelings as a clinician we gain insight into our own emotional triggers. We can harness that awareness to ground, lessen any anxiety or judgement that may arise, and apply the most accurate clinical tool. This increases objectivity and empathy for our clients.

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3. Prevents burnout and increases ethical practice.

Counseling is emotionally demanding. Vicarious trauma is real! Sitting with someone in pain can be painful. Without introspection, there is a higher risk for issues like burnout and compassion fatigue. Emotional exhaustion can go unnoticed and can impact client care. Knowing when we are not at our best, or when we need a break, is important.

Processing thoughts and feelings in clinical supervision can help:

  • Monitor counselor emotional well-being
  • Recognize and prevent burnout
  • Set healthy clinical boundaries
  • Keep us connected with the important and significant work we do.
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4. Personal growth impacts professional growth.

Clients often look to us as models of self-awareness. To be genuine in our authenticity, it is imperative to commit to our own self growth. Through exploring thoughts and feelings in supervision, we can self-reflect. Oftentimes, it is recommended to pair clinical supervision with other introspective work such as our own therapy and/or other self- reflection practice. By engaging in introspective growth, we gain:

  • Greater emotional awareness and regulation
  • Increased objectivity and humility
  • Set health personal boundaries
  • Greater sense of purpose

It is often mentioned in clinical discussion, “You can only take a client as far as you’ve gone.” The importance of introspective growth cannot be stressed enough. When we walk the path ourselves, we better understand how to serve others. Our own personal insight strengthens our therapeutic skills and effectiveness.

5. Improves cultural humility

We are all human. We all have families, messages, beliefs, our own identities, privilege, gender, race, religious backgrounds, and other life experiences that shape our view. Introspective work in supervision (or elsewhere) can help us reflect on and understand our (conscious and unconscious) biases. Self-awareness is the key to humble, inclusive, and skilled practice.

Unearthing and awareness of our biases supports:

  • Ongoing cultural humility (as opposed to the static “cultural competence”)
  • Recognition of our personal biases
  • Greater sensitivity to power dynamics and intersectionality

Personal and professional growth is a lifelong process.

If you are an LAC in clinical supervision, find a supervisor who will not only guide you with knowledge but hold space for your introspective work. Outside of supervision and consultation, it is imperative for all counselors to engage in ongoing introspective growth, getting a deeper understanding of self, and ongoing self-evolution.

Many research studies have resulted in findings that it is not any one technique but the therapeutic rapport that is the most important element in the therapeutic process. Committing to personal and professional growth ensures that we, as counselors, sitting across from a client, can be grounded, ethical, and fully present.

If you are new in the field, or a seasoned clinician, introspective awareness is the most important work you can do to provide the highest quality of service to your client and to yourself. The most powerful clinical skill in the room is not a technique, it is your self- awareness and how that impacts you and your client’s experience in the therapeutic

process.

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