The Difference Between Supervision and Therapy: Understanding Boundaries

When you sit down with your supervisor, it might feel like therapy at times.

You're opening up, exploring difficult feelings, sharing uncertainty, and even talking about your personal reactions.

So, what's the difference? Where’s the line between supervision and therapy—and why does it matter?

Let’s unpack this gently, from a human, person-centred place.

Supervision is About the Work—But You’re Part of That Work

In counselling supervision, you’re bringing your work with clients to the table.

That includes your reactions, doubts, ethical dilemmas, and emotional responses.

It’s a space to explore how you’re experiencing your work, so you can offer the best support to your clients.

But it’s not therapy. Why?

Because the focus is not solely on you as a person, but on you in the context of your therapeutic work.

Supervision holds a dual focus: your development as a practitioner and the well-being of your clients.

Therapy is About You—Just You

In therapy, the space is yours completely.

It’s about your story, your emotions, your healing, your past, your needs.

There’s no professional “hat” you have to wear. You’re not trying to improve your practice—you’re being held as a person, not as a practitioner.

That freedom is sacred. That space is vital.

Why These Boundaries Matter

It’s easy for lines to blur—especially when a supervisor is warm, empathic, and open. But keeping a healthy boundary means:

• You know what kind of support you’re getting.

• You don’t accidentally avoid your own therapy by using supervision as a substitute.

• Your supervisor can hold space without becoming your therapist (which could be ethically messy).

It also means your therapy, if you have it, stays focused on you. And your supervision stays focused on your work.

You Can Be Vulnerable in Both

In both spaces, it’s okay to be messy, honest, and real. You can cry. You can say you’re struggling. You can feel stuck.

Being person-centred means we don’t split people into “therapists” and “clients”—we see the person first, always. But supervision and therapy each offer different kinds of holding. Each has its own purpose and power.

Knowing What You Need

Sometimes, what you need is deeper emotional support that isn’t about the work. That’s when therapy might be more appropriate.

Other times, you might just need space to reflect, process a tricky client dynamic, or sense-check your gut. That’s where supervision shines.

Both are gifts. Both are necessary. And both, when working well, will leave you feeling more grounded, more human, and more capable.

If you’re looking for reflective, person-centred supervision that supports your growth and honours your humanity, I’d love to hear from you.