Difficulties with supervisor -- thoughts?

Early on in supervision, my supervisor told me that she doesn't like doing psychotherapy so she found a job where she doesn't do therapy but can use her license and does supervision. Sometimes I can't help but get the feeling that it's her own dislike of doing psychotherapy that's coming off in the supervision.

Absolutely. Her mind is everywhere but therapy, because she doesn't like it and/or is not good at it. So when you go to her to consult about a session, it's the farthest thing from her mind, hence why she steers it in the direction of things that are more relevant to her. This is shitty and not fair to you. You could try bringing it up with her directly, as others have suggested, but I don't think a therapist who dislikes therapy will be receptive to a therapeutic approach. I'd have a conversation framed around what it is you need from your supervision and ask for more consultation on your clients (I almost want to say have the conversation via e-mail for documentation purposes, but it's really something better done face-to-face). If she doesn't respond to that, then go to whoever it is telling you switching supervisors "is not recommended" and describe the above conversation and its outcome.

/r/psychotherapy Thread