Clinical Supervision for Psychologists: What to Look For

Finding the right clinical supervisor is one of the more significant professional decisions you will make as a psychologist, particularly in your provisional or registrar years. Good supervision makes the difference between developing as a clinician and simply accumulating hours. This article explains what clinical supervision is, what the Psychology Board of Australia requires, and what is worth thinking about when you are choosing a supervisor.

What is clinical supervision in psychology?

Simply put, clinical supervision is a structured professional relationship in which a more experienced practitioner supports a less (or differently) experienced practitioner in developing clinical competence, managing the demands of clinical work, and maintaining ethical practice.

In psychology, supervision is both a training requirement and an ongoing professional support mechanism. The Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) mandates supervision during the provisional and registrar programs, and many registered psychologists continue formal supervision in some form throughout their careers.

Supervision isn’t the same as mentoring (which is broader and less structured), line management (which is organisational rather than clinical), or case consultation (which is typically less formal and regular). It has a specific purpose and structure.

What does the Psychology Board of Australia require?

Requirements vary depending on the pathway:

The 4+2 internship has been retired. It closed to new applicants on 30 June 2022, and anyone still completing one must apply for general registration by 30 June 2027. For those finishing, it requires a minimum of 160 hours of supervision from a Board-approved supervisor across 3,000 hours of practice, at an average ratio of one hour of supervision to 17 hours of practice.
The 5+1 internship requires 80 hours of supervision across 1,500 hours of supervised practice, with at least 50 of those hours individual supervision with your principal supervisor. Under the guidelines that took effect on 1 December 2025, supervision can be delivered in the same room, by telephone or by videoconference, and your supervisor must directly observe at least four sessions every six months.
In the higher degree pathway, a Board-approved Master’s or Doctorate, supervision requirements sit with the university program and its accredited placements rather than with a separate internship. For registrars working toward endorsement in an area of practice, supervision must come from a psychologist approved as a Registrar Program Principal Supervisor in that same area, which is a further status beyond general Board-approved supervisor.
Overseas-qualified psychologists register provisionally first, and most complete a transitional program of at least three months with a Board-approved supervisor. The steps are set out in supervision for overseas-qualified psychologists.
If you’re returning to practice after time away, returning to psychology practice after a break covers what that involves.

It’s your responsibility to verify the current requirements directly with the PsyBA, as these can be updated. What’s outlined here reflects the general structure as understood at the time of writing.

What makes supervision useful?

Supervision varies considerably in quality and usefulness. The structural requirements matter (hours, format, documentation), but what determines whether supervision actually develops your clinical skill is something different.

Supervision is useful when it:

Gets into the actual work. Case conceptualisation, not just case summary. What model are you using and why? Where are you uncertain? What is happening in the room that you aren’t sure how to interpret?
Addresses the emotional demands of clinical work. The experience of being a clinician is part of what supervision addresses. This isn’t the same as therapy, but it includes reflecting on how the work is affecting you, what you are noticing in yourself, and how to manage that sustainably.
Is direct about difficulty. A supervisor who only reflects positive observations isn’t giving you the full picture. Useful supervision is clear and respectful about what needs development.
Maintains a collegial relationship. Effective supervision isn’t hierarchical in tone. It draws on the supervisor’s experience without positioning the supervisee as passive or incompetent.
Is consistent and reliable. Irregular or frequently cancelled supervision is harder to use well, regardless of quality when it does occur.

What is a Board-Approved Supervisor?

A Board-Approved Supervisor is a psychologist the Psychology Board of Australia has approved to supervise provisional psychologists and registrars. Not every registered psychologist holds the status, and if you’re on a registration pathway your supervisor needs it. You can confirm it on the AHPRA public register.

What a board-approved supervisor is covers the requirements, who needs one and how to verify the status in more detail.

Is telehealth supervision available?

Yes. The PsyBA has confirmed that supervision can be delivered via telehealth (videoconference). This is significant for psychologists in regional or rural areas, those with limited access to local supervisors in their area of practice, or those who prefer the flexibility of online supervision.

In practice, telehealth supervision works well for individual sessions. The relationship-building that is central to good supervision is entirely possible via video.

I offer individual clinical supervision via telehealth for provisional psychologists, registrars, and fully registered psychologists across Australia. Sessions are conducted via a secure videoconference platform.

How to choose a clinical supervisor

Finding the right supervisor isn’t just about logistics. Some things worth considering:

Area of practice. Does the supervisor have experience with the presentations you are working with? A supervisor with a health psychology background may not be the best fit if your caseload is primarily adults with complex trauma or neurodivergence.
Supervisory approach. How does the supervisor describe their approach to supervision? What’s their theoretical orientation? Do they have a model they work from, or is it more informal?
Fit and communication style. Do you feel you can be honest about difficulties you might experience in your work with this person? Supervision that feels evaluative rather than collaborative tends to be harder to use.
Practical logistics. Availability, fee, format (individual vs. group), and whether they can meet the PsyBA requirements for your specific pathway.

A brief initial conversation before committing to supervision is always a reasonable ask and, in my experience, useful for both parties. Requirements differ by pathway, with the detail set out in the articles on 5+1 internship supervision and the registrar program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to see a Board-Approved Supervisor?

If you are a provisional psychologist, yes. The PsyBA requires that supervision be provided by a Board-Approved Supervisor. For fully registered psychologists seeking peer consultation or professional support outside of formal requirements, this isn’t a mandatory requirement.

How many supervision hours do I need?

Requirements depend on your pathway. Always verify current requirements directly with the PsyBA, as these are subject to change.

Can I have more than one supervisor?

Yes. Many provisional psychologists have a primary supervisor and access additional supervisors for specific presentations or modalities. The PsyBA has specific requirements about the mix of supervision types (individual vs. group), so check the current guidelines.

What should I bring to supervision?

Bring cases. Bring the ones that are going well and the ones that aren’t. Bring the moments you are uncertain about, the client interactions that are lingering, and the ethical questions you are navigating. Supervision that is driven by real clinical material is more useful than supervision that focuses primarily on administrative matters.

What is the difference between clinical supervision and peer consultation?

Clinical supervision involves a formal professional relationship with documented oversight, typically between a more experienced and less experienced practitioner. Peer consultation is typically a more informal, collegial exchange between practitioners of similar experience. Both have value, but they serve different purposes and don’t substitute for each other.

If you are looking for clinical supervision, further information about my approach and availability can be found on the Supervision page. I work with provisional psychologists, registrars, and fully registered psychologists, via telehealth across Australia.

Veronica West is a registered psychologist (BPsychSc(Hons), MPH, MPsych) and Board-Approved Supervisor based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. She offers individual clinical supervision via telehealth for provisional psychologists, registrars, and fully registered psychologists across Australia. Learn more at veronicawestpsychology.com/about.

Clinical Supervision for Psychologists: What to Look for and How It Works