Supervision and Its Woes...

I laugh now at my naivety. But when I was in my first semester of my mysic therapy equivalency degree, I was literally like WHAT IS A CLINICAL?!

Yeah. That's embarrassing to admit. 

THEN I was told we would have both individual and group supervision. Um...WHAT IS SUPERVISION?! Obviously I had experience with supervisors at various jobs...and had even been an assistant manager. But I remember feeling overwhelmed jumping into this clinical and supervision mystery combo. Long story short...I learned how to accept constructive feedback throughout my graduate career because of the wonders of supervision. My professors were being sincere and candid with me about my musical and therapeutic skills. I figured out that I'm a natural leader (sometimes too much so...whaaat? I'm never bossy...news flash: *I AM*) and what my strengths and weaknesses are as both a musician and a clinician.

Furthermore, my equivalency program required a new graduate course structured around learning how to be an effective supervisor. As I was preparing myself for internship, I was finding this common question on many Music Therapy internship applications: What kind of supervision do you prefer? This concept became one of the most relevant subjects for me throughout my schooling. 

Fast forward to my position now as a professional music therapist. I spend sixteen hours per week providing MT services to hospital patients. There are new interns working in the same capacities and locations as I did just last year. And as I have discussed on here, I often find myself a little lost in my self doubt. Interestingly, I was asked to provide supervision for a struggling intern as an intern on the other side post-graduation. At first I felt this may be inappropriate, but I was reassured by colleagues and professionals that I have experience and knowledge to give to a lending ear. 

I was honest and candid, as I so appreciated my feedback from my professors. I balanced constructive feedback with positive feedback, offering advice on techniques and musicianship skills. I praised the good moments and did not sugarcoat any skills that needed work. I gave verbal feedback and written feedback on a provided rubric from the intern's actual supervisor. 

Days later my supervision was met with complaints from the intern...and I was fearful that I had crossed a line. Was I not worthy to provide advice? Are my skill sets efficient enough to be in this position? Maybe the supervisee was not willing to accept constructive feedback and maybe there is nothing I could have done differently that would have made he/she feel any different. After some hard thinking and processing, this is what I've determined.

What I know now after reflection:

• I used the supervision techniques that I most appreciate. 
• I balanced good and constructive feedback.
• I followed the requests of the supervisor. 
• I was respectful.

Supervision is not for the faint of heart. The colleague that asked me to do the supervision thanked me for my advice and praised several ideas I offered. Perhaps it was inappropriate for such a new employee and former intern as myself to give advice to a current intern; but I do believe that my supervision advice was thorough, direct, and efficient. So...offer me any wisdom that you may have. Because I frequent the line of self-confidence/self-doubt far too often as a brand new professional.

<3 Lauren