A Therapist’s Guide to Finding the Right Clinical Supervisor

Clinical supervision is one of the most valuable parts of a therapist’s professional development. It’s more than just meeting requirements, it’s about creating a space where you feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow both personally and professionally.

But with so many supervision options available, it can be hard to know where to begin. If you’re searching for the right fit, this blog will walk you through what to consider, what questions to ask, and how to know when you’ve found the right match!

Start by Asking Yourself the Right Questions

Before you dive into supervisor directories or referrals, take the time to reflect on what you’re hoping to gain from this experience. Your needs will shape who’s the best fit for you.

Here are a few helpful questions to ask yourself:

• What client populations am I working with or hoping to work with more?
  
• Which therapeutic modalities do I want to strengthen or explore?
  
• What situations in my current caseload leave me feeling stuck or unsure?
  
• Am I looking for support with clinical skills, case formulation, ethics, or my professional identity?
  
• Do I want feedback that’s direct and structured or more exploratory and reflective?
  
• What are my longer-term career goals, and how could a supervisor help me move toward them?
  

Understanding your goals and pain points helps narrow the search and helps the supervision relationship become a meaningful experience, not just mandatory.

Where to Start Your Search for Clinical Supervisors in Ontario

Once you know what you’re looking for, you can start exploring your options. Here are a few good places to begin:

Online Directories

Websites like the Canadian Clinical Supervision Directory lets you filter by location, modality, approach, and more to find a clinical supervisor that fits your specific needs and specialty. 

Professional Associations

Organizations such as the CRPO and the CCPA offer lists of recognized and accredited clinical supervisors.

Your Network

Ask colleagues, former professors, or previous practicum supervisors for referrals. Word of mouth leads to the most trusted sources and best connections.

What to Look for in a Canadian Clinical Supervisor

Spoiler alert! Not every qualified supervisor will be the right supervisor for you. It’s worth taking time to really evaluate whether or not someone’s approach, values, and experience align with your needs.

Here are a few important things to consider:

Relevant Clinical Experience

Does the supervisor have hands-on experience in your areas of interest? Do they specialize in the same areas as your interests such as trauma, couples therapy, grief, or working with specific populations like children or LGBTQ+ clients?

Supervision Training & Credentials

Look for someone who’s completed formal supervision training and stays active in the field. Designations like CCS (Canadian Certified Counsellor–Supervisor) or CRPO recognition as a supervisor indicate they’ve received dedicated training.

Reflective, Supportive Feedback

Some supervisors take a more structured, feedback-heavy approach. Others focus more on reflective exploration and supporting your clinical reasoning. Think about what kind of feedback helps you grow.

Self-Reflection Focus

Great supervisors encourage curiosity about your own reactions, beliefs, and decision-making as a clinician. They help you understand not just what you’re doing but why you’re doing it and areas of growth and improvement. 

Alignment in Theoretical Orientation

Do they share your preferred modality (like CBT, psychodynamic, or somatic approaches)? Or can they help you expand your skills in a new one?

Ethical Guidance

Your supervisor should model high professional standards, offer clear ethical guidance, and support your development in navigating clinical grey areas.

Accessibility & Logistics

Make sure their availability, fees, format (virtual/in-person), and documentation meet your practical needs and schedule. Reliability matters.

Personal Fit

Supervision is a relationship. You’ll be discussing vulnerable material, your mistakes, doubts, and therapeutic blind spots. You want someone you feel safe with, someone who listens well and brings curiosity, not judgment. Can you be open with this person and form a bond to get the most out of this experience. 

Types of Clinical Supervision

Depending on your needs, you might choose one of the following supervision formats:

Individual Supervision

One-on-one meetings where the focus is entirely on your clinical work and development. Ideal if you’re looking for personalized feedback, in-depth case discussions, or you’re in a stage of significant growth.

Dyadic Supervision

Two supervisees working together with one supervisor. You benefit from personalized attention while also learning from a peer’s perspective and case material.

Group Supervision

Supervision with a small group of therapists at a similar stage. Group dynamics encourage shared learning, normalization, and diverse feedback. This option is often more cost-effective and great for those who enjoy collaborative learning.

Book a Free Virtual Consultation

Most clinical supervisors offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use this opportunity to explore whether the relationship feels like a fit.

Some helpful questions to ask:

• How do you typically structure supervision sessions?
  
• What kinds of documentation do you provide?
  
• How do you balance support with challenge?
  
• What’s your approach to giving feedback?
  
• How do you see your role in my development?
  

Trust your instincts. You should leave that meeting feeling heard, respected, and curious to continue not hesitant or confused.

Insight-Online Virtual Supervision Services

At Insight-Online, we believe clinical supervision is foundational to confident, ethical, and impactful practice. We offer individual, dyadic, and group supervision in a supportive, non-judgmental space.

Meet Kate Harper, Ph.D., RP, CCS

Kate is a Registered Psychotherapist with the CRPO and a Canadian Certified Counsellor–Supervisor with the CCPA. With a Ph.D. in Research Psychology (Neuropsychoanalysis), Kate integrates a brain-based, somatic lens where helpful—especially in case formulation involving emotional dysregulation, trauma, and primary emotional systems.

She supports interns, RPQs, and fully licensed therapists in refining their professional identity, strengthening their clinical reasoning, and aligning their techniques with both client needs and therapist intentions. Her approach to supervision encourages reflection, deeper understanding of client dynamics, and growth in therapeutic skill.

Whether you’re early in your journey or expanding your clinical focus, Kate offers a warm, knowledgeable space to support your development.

Interested in working with Kate?
Book a free consultation to learn more about individual, dyadic, or group supervision.

Final Thoughts

Supervision isn’t just something you need to check off for your hours, it’s a space where real growth happens. The right clinical supervisor can help you feel more grounded in your work, more confident in your skills, and more connected to why you started this work in the first place.

You deserve to feel supported in your journey. Take the time to find the right fit. And when you do it’ll make all the difference!