Clinical supervision supports trainee mental health professionals by offering oversight and support from a more experienced provider. To become licensed to practice, all mental health providers must complete a minimum number of therapy hours under clinical supervision. The specific requirements vary depending on the license a therapist seeks and the state in which they practice.

Clinical supervision may also refer to ongoing consultation with and support from other mental health professionals, though the technical term for this is consultation, not supervision. For example, therapists in the same practice may consult with one another about difficult cases or regularly review one another’s work. In this context, supervision can sharpen a therapist’s diagnostic skills, encourage self-care, and help them provide better treatment.