Introduction

Almost every psychologist remembers the first time they sat opposite a client without a university supervisor sitting quietly in the room.

For many, it is both exciting and terrifying.

Despite completing years of university study, placements, assessments, and professional training, many provisional psychologists and clinical registrars quickly discover that real clinical work feels very different from textbooks.

Questions begin to emerge.

"Did I ask the right questions?"

"Should I have formulated that differently?"

"Why does everyone else seem more confident than me?"

"Am I progressing quickly enough?"

These questions are incredibly common.

In fact, they are often signs that you are thinking carefully about your work rather than evidence that you are struggling.

One of the greatest misconceptions about becoming a psychologist is the belief that confidence should arrive immediately after registration.

In reality, confidence develops gradually through supervised experience, reflective practice, and repeated exposure to increasingly complex clinical work.

You're Probably Doing Better Than You Think

One of the most common observations supervisors make is that provisional psychologists often judge themselves far more harshly than anyone else does.

Many supervisees believe they should:

• Know every answer

• Never feel uncertain

• Always formulate quickly

• Never miss important information

• Feel completely confident

Experienced psychologists know that none of these expectations are realistic.

In fact, psychologists who remain curious, reflective, and willing to question their thinking often become stronger clinicians than those who believe they already know everything.

Why Self-Doubt Is So Common During Supervised Practice

Professional psychology attracts people who are:

• Highly conscientious

• Thoughtful

• Analytical

• Empathic

• Responsible

These characteristics make excellent psychologists.  Unfortunately, they also make people vulnerable to perfectionism.  Many provisional psychologists believe competence means certainty.  Experienced psychologists understand something different.  Competence often means becoming comfortable with uncertainty while continuing to think critically.

The Difference Between Confidence and Competence

One of the most important lessons during supervision is recognising that confidence and competence are not the same thing.  Some psychologists appear highly confident while overlooking important clinical information.  Others quietly question themselves while producing thoughtful, comprehensive formulations and excellent therapeutic work. 

Competence develops before confidence.

Confidence follows repeated experience.

Supervision helps bridge the gap between the two.

Why Comparison Is So Misleading

Registrar programs often expose psychologists to highly experienced peers.  This naturally creates comparison.

You may compare:

• Your first formulation...

...to someone else's tenth year of practice.

You may compare:

• Your first risk assessment...

...to someone who has completed hundreds.

You may compare:

• Your confidence...

...to someone else's outward appearance.

The problem is that comparison rarely reflects reality.

Every psychologist has experienced uncertainty.

Many simply become better at managing it.

Clinical Confidence Comes From Reflection, Not Perfection

Research consistently demonstrates that reflective practice is central to professional competence (Schön, 1983).

Confidence develops through asking questions such as:

• What went well?

• What did I learn?

• What would I approach differently?

• What additional information would strengthen my formulation?

This reflective process gradually strengthens clinical reasoning.

The Role of Supervision in Building Confidence

High quality supervision provides something every psychologist needs permission not to know everything.

Good supervision creates a psychologically safe space where registrars can discuss:

• Uncertainty

• Ethical dilemmas

• Clinical mistakes

• Countertransference

• Burnout

• Difficult therapeutic relationships

Rather than judging uncertainty, supervision uses it as a foundation for learning.

This is one of the reasons many psychologists describe supervision as the most valuable part of their registrar program.

Why Group Supervision Can Accelerate Confidence

Many psychologists assume confidence develops only through individual supervision.  Interestingly, group supervision often speeds up confidence development.  Why?

Because registrars quickly discover something reassuring.

Everyone is asking similar questions.

Everyone experiences difficult sessions.

Everyone occasionally questions themselves.

Everyone has experienced imposter syndrome.

This normalisation significantly reduces shame and professional isolation.

Group supervision also exposes psychologists to:

• Multiple formulations

• Different therapeutic styles

• Diverse client presentations

• Shared problem solving

Registrars often leave group supervision realising:

"I'm actually doing much better than I thought."

The Importance of Developing Your Own Clinical Voice

Another important developmental milestone is recognising that you do not need to become another version of your supervisor.  Supervision is not about creating identical psychologists.  It is about helping you develop your own thoughtful, evidence-based clinical style.

Over time you begin integrating:

• Your personality

• Your values

• Your communication style

• Your theoretical knowledge

• Your clinical experience

into an authentic professional identity.

Progress Is Rarely Linear

Many psychologists expect confidence to steadily increase.  In reality, development often looks like:

Confidence...

followed by uncertainty...

followed by growth...

followed by another challenging case...

followed by more confidence.

Each difficult client often becomes the psychologist who teaches us the most.

What Kristie Clarke Focuses on During Supervision

As an endorsed Clinical Psychologist and AHPRA Board Approved Supervisor, Kristie Clarke works with provisional psychologists and Clinical Psychology Registrars across Australia to support both competency development and professional confidence.

Her supervision focuses on helping psychologists develop:

• Advanced clinical reasoning

• Strong case formulation skills

• Ethical confidence

• Reflective practice

• Sustainable private practice habits

• Burnout prevention strategies

• Confidence working with complexity

Kristie's supervision philosophy recognises that becoming a confident psychologist is not about eliminating uncertainty.  It is about learning how to think well within uncertainty.

You're Not Expected to Know Everything

Perhaps the most reassuring message every provisional psychologist and registrar needs to hear is this:

You are not expected to know everything.

The registrar pathway exists precisely because psychologists continue developing after registration.

The purpose of supervision is not to test you.

It is to support you.

Every question you ask.

Every formulation you revisit.

Every difficult session you reflect upon...

...is contributing to your professional growth.



Conclusion

If you have ever questioned whether you are progressing quickly enough, whether your formulations are good enough, or whether you truly belong in the profession, you are far from alone.

Almost every experienced psychologist has stood where you are now.

The psychologists who continue growing are rarely those with the greatest confidence from the beginning.

They are the ones who remain curious, reflective, open to feedback, and committed to lifelong learning.

With high quality supervision, supportive peers, and regular reflective practice, confidence develops naturally over time.

The goal of supervision is not perfection.

It is helping you become a thoughtful, ethical, reflective, and sustainable psychologist.

References

Bernard, J. M., & Goodyear, R. K. (2019). Fundamentals of clinical supervision (6th ed.). Pearson.

Falender, C. A., & Shafranske, E. P. (2004). Clinical supervision: A competency-based approach. American Psychological Association.

Psychology Board of Australia. (2024). Registrar program guidelines. https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au

Schön, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. Basic Books.

Skovholt, T. M., & Trotter-Mathison, M. (2016). The resilient practitioner: Burnout prevention and self-care strategies for counsellors, therapists, teachers, and health professionals (3rd ed.). Routledge.