162: The Biggest Mistakes Supervisors Make And How To Prevent Them

What actually goes wrong in supervision, and how do you prevent it before it snowballs?

In this episode, Dr. Ashley Stevens and I dive into the most common supervisor mistakes we see across counselor and social work settings. From over-hiring your very first month to being impossible to reach when supervisees truly need you, we unpack the decisions that create risk, rupture trust, and leave new supervisors feeling overwhelmed or blindsided.

We also name the often-ignored realities of supervision: the hours that happen outside your scheduled hour, the necessity of real relationships with work-site managers, and why evaluation and remediation (not personal criticism) are non-negotiable parts of ethical practice. Because supervision isn’t just a teaching role; it’s a leadership role. The sooner supervisors embrace structure, clarity, and the authority the job requires, the sooner the work becomes calm, aligned, and deeply rewarding.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “one hour a week” is a myth, and how real supervision requires availability, boundaries, and protected space in your schedule.
• How evaluation and remediation actually protect supervisees, clients, and you—and why relying on self-report is an ethical trap.
• Why external supervisors must build relationships with work-site managers, and the consequences when you don’t.
• Why every supervisor needs a contract and a working understanding of state law, even when rules don’t explicitly require it.

Ready to feel equipped, confident, and grounded as you step into supervision? Subscribe for more conversation about supervision, leadership, and building practices that thrive.

If you’re ready to lead with confidence, join the 2026 Supervisor Course waitlist for early access to bonus tools, templates, and fast-track grading. Strengthen your systems today with the free Supervision Onboarding Checklist, and get ongoing CEUs and live coaching inside the Step It Up Membership. You’re not just building a practice, you’re building a legacy.

Get your step by step guide to private practice. Because you are too important to lose to not knowing the rules, going broke, burning out, and giving up. #counselorsdontquit.