How Often Should I Have Clinical Supervision?

If you’re a practising therapist, you’ll know that supervision is one of the cornerstones of ethical and reflective practice. It is also really helpful. I look forward to my supervision sessions, I like talking things through with someone else, but it also is a place I learn. One question that comes up time and again, especially in private practice, is how often should I actually have supervision?

The short answer is: it depends.
The longer answer is that the depends is on a few factors. Initially the frequency and structure of your supervision should shift depending on where you are in your professional journey, what models you work with, and what your current caseload looks like.

The factors I believe influence the frequency of supervision are:

If you are early in your career

If you’re newly qualified or setting up in private practice for the first time, supervision often needs to happen more frequently. In the early stages, you’re not just talking through cases, you’re learning how to work in private practice. This includes managing referrals, how you note take and the systems you use as well as how you navigate the ethical and practical responsibilities that come with independence.

When I first started out, I booked sessions close together so that my supervisor could help me think through the "how-tos". It was less about complex client formulations and more about grounding myself in good habits and processes. Over time, as confidence and rhythm develop, supervision naturally spaces out.

When you train in a new modality

Another factor is your training stage within specific models. If you’ve recently trained in EMDR, IFS, or another specialist approach, you may need a separate supervisor who is trained in that model. Even if you already have a general clinical supervisor, modality-specific supervision ensures you’re applying the model safely and effectively, especially while you’re integrating new techniques.

Sometimes this means switching supervisors or adding a second one. Many clinicians find value in having more than one supervisor for this very reason—the variety brings perspective and balance.

When your caseload changes

The number and type of clients you’re working with will also affect your supervision needs. In quieter seasons, you may need less frequent supervision and during more complex or emotionally demanding periods, you may need it more often.

To give you a personal example, I recently booked a one-off consultation with a specialist supervisor to talk through a particularly tricky case. That month, I had more supervision than usual and it was exactly what was needed. The point is to allow supervision to flex with your clinical reality, rather than sticking rigidly to a fixed schedule.

Finding your rhythm

In private practice, I’ve found supervision becomes more fluid. Some months you might have two sessions; others, one and some months I've missed a month. For me more important than frequency is that supervision continues to feel helpful and for me that looks like being a space for reflection, challenge, support, and growth.

Personally, I work with a couple of different supervisors (I have group EMDR supervision as well as a regular 1:1 supervisor), and I find that variety invaluable. Each brings something different.

In summary

• Newly qualified? Have supervision more frequently while you establish yourself.

• Trained in a new model? Seek supervision from someone experienced in that modality.

• Facing complexity or high emotional load? Increase your supervision frequency temporarily.

• Established and steady? You might find monthly or bi-monthly supervision sufficient.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t to meet a number, it’s to ensure you feel supported, resourced, and ethically held in your work. Hope that feels helpful!