Why It Matters to Have a Supervisor Who Gets You

Starting your clinical career—or even just moving through it—can feel like a lot. Supervision is supposed to be the space where you bring your questions, your growth edges, your hard moments, and your whole self. But for many queer, trans, neurodivergent, or otherwise marginalized clinicians, that can feel easier said than done.

The truth is, who you have as a supervisor makes a big difference. When your supervisor understands and respects your identities—not just in a “check-the-box” kind of way, but really gets the lived experience—it changes everything.

You deserve to feel seen in supervision

Supervision isn’t just about learning technical skills or meeting licensure hours. It’s about feeling safe enough to take risks, reflect honestly, and grow into the kind of clinician you want to be. That safety comes from being seen—not just as a therapist, but as a whole person.

Research backs this up: when supervisors are culturally responsive and identity-affirming, supervisees report more satisfaction, more professional growth, and better outcomes overall.

On the flip side, when your identities are dismissed, misunderstood, or invisibilized? It can feel unsafe to bring your full self into the room, which limits the growth that can happen there.

Our identities don’t stop at the door

Many of us hold multiple identities that impact how we move through the world—and the therapy room. For example, research shows that neurodivergent folks are significantly more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+. These identities don’t exist in isolation. They shape how we experience supervision, how we show up with clients, and what we need to feel supported.

A supervisor who understands intersectionality—the way these identities overlap and influence each other—can help you explore how your lived experience is part of your clinical work, not separate from it.

What makes supervision actually affirming?

It’s not about having a supervisor who shares all your identities (though that can help!). What matters most is that they bring cultural humility and a willingness to learn—someone who will listen, reflect, and honor your perspective.

That kind of supervision takes work and intention. It looks like:

• Making space for conversations about identity without making it feel like a burden or “extra.”

• Owning mistakes when they happen and staying open to feedback.

• Actively learning about experiences they don’t share—and not expecting you to do all the educating.

Supervisors who practice cultural humility acknowledge the limits of their own perspective and create space for yours.

Tips for finding the right fit

If you’re in the process of looking for a supervisor—or realizing you might need something different—here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Ask about their experience working with clinicians who share aspects of your identity.

• Trust your gut when it comes to emotional safety. Do you feel like you can show up honestly?

• Name what you need. You’re allowed to ask for affirming supervision. That’s not “extra,” it’s necessary.

• Don’t settle. You deserve a supervisor who’s invested in you—not just your hours.

You’re allowed to take up space here

Your identities are not a distraction from your work as a clinician. They are part of what makes you a powerful, insightful, and necessary voice in this field. Supervision should be a space where you get to bring that power forward, not shrink it down.

So if you’re looking for a supervisor who understands, who listens, and who affirms your whole self—you’re not asking for too much. You’re asking for what you deserve.