Supervision for provisional and early career psychologists
Supervision with Brayden
Board-Approved Supervisor / Psychologist
Having completed the 5+1 pathway myself, I remember what it was like trying to develop as a clinician while also keeping on top of supervision, professional development, case reports, the National Psychology Exam, logbooks and everything else that comes with provisional registration.
A big part of why I moved into supervision and why I created the Provisional Psychologist Resource Centre was wanting to make that process feel a little more manageable for psychologists coming through after me, whether that is completing an internship, or navigating early career stages.
My clinical approach draws strongly from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), while also incorporating knowedlge from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, DBT, exposure-based interventions, mindfulness and other evidence-based approaches.
Some areas I particularly enjoy exploring in supervision include:
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case formulation and treatment planning
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ACT-informed practice
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anxiety and OCD
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exposure and response prevention
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working with adolescents and young adults
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therapeutic process and challenging sessions
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ethical decision-making
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clinical documentation and professional communication
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managing uncertainty and building clinical confidence
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developing your own therapeutic style
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navigating the 5+1 internship and National Psychology Exam
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the broader transition from provisional psychologist to independent practice
I also enjoy the smaller questions that can sometimes feel surprisingly difficult early in your career - How do I explain this to the client? Was that session actually productive? What do I write in this letter? Am I missing something in the formulation? How do I bring this up with the client next week?
My approach to supervision
Supervision is a collaborative process, akin to the therapeutic relationship between psychologist and client. Finding the right match is so important.
What someone needs in their first few months of practice is often very different from what they need once they have developed greater confidence, experience and their own clinical style. My approach is therefore responsive to both where you are developmentally and what you need from that particular session.
Sometimes supervision needs to be practical and directive. You might want guidance around how to approach a difficult case, structure your next session, formulate a presentation, navigate an ethical issue or simply work out what to do next.
Other times, you might already know the clinical options and need somewhere to slow things down, reflect on what is happening in the therapeutic relationship, explore your own responses or make sense of why a particular case is feeling difficult.
I'm comfortable working in both spaces, and most often supervision moves somewhere between the two. The supervision space is to help you develop your own clinical judgement, understand the reasoning behind your decisions and gradually become more confident in the psychologist you are becoming.
Types of Supervision
5+1 supervision
For provisional psychologists completing the 5+1 internship, I can provide primary or secondary supervision.
My work through the Provisional Psychologist Resource Centre means I have a particular interest in supporting psychologists through the developmental side of internship — not only meeting requirements, but learning how to translate theory, ethics and competencies into everyday clinical practice.
Supervision can include clinical work, case formulation, ethical and professional issues, competency development, documentation, NPE preparation and the practical realities of progressing through internship.
Ad hoc / peer supervision
I also provide individual peer supervision for provisional and generally registered psychologists.
This can be useful if you are early in your career and want continued support while developing your practice, or if you are a more established psychologist looking for a regular space to discuss complex cases, therapeutic process, ethical questions or professional development.
Peer supervision does not need to mean arriving each session with a major problem to solve. It can equally be a space to think more deeply about your work, test ideas, challenge habitual ways of practising and remain intentional about your development as a psychologist.
Whether you are at the beginning of the 5+1 internship, approaching general registration, finding your feet as an early-career psychologist or looking for an ongoing reflective space later in your career, supervision can be shaped around what is most useful for you.