Oops, I did it again: Learning from mistakes in Music Therapy

Supervision as a space for reflection and inquiry

Music therapy is deeply relational. Every session is shaped not only by the client’s needs but also by the therapist’s presence, responses and unconscious processes. Supervision allows us to step outside the immediacy of our work and look at it from a new perspective. As Joan Wilmot and Robin Shohet write in Passionate Supervision:

"Supervision is a place where we can take the risk of looking at ourselves with compassion, where we can be held and challenged to see our blind spots, and where we can deepen our capacity for presence."

In a field where attunement is paramount, we need time to pause and reflect on how we interact musically and relationally. Did we meet our client’s needs? Did we respond in a way that fostered connection? Could we have offered something different? Supervision gives us the space to ask these questions without judgment, ensuring we remain self-aware and responsive in our practice.

Learning from mistakes: Holding up the magnifying glass

It is tempting to shy away from moments in our work that didn’t go as planned - where we felt uncertain, where an intervention fell flat or where we left a session wondering if we did enough/are good-enough. However, it is in these very moments that the richest learning occurs. Supervision provides a structured space to examine these experiences under a magnifying glass, not to berate ourselves, but to grow.

Mistakes and challenges are inevitable in music therapy. What matters is not avoiding them but understanding them. A difficult session might reveal unconscious countertransference, highlight areas where we need further training, or expose assumptions we were unaware of. Rather than ignoring or feeling disheartened by these moments, supervision allows us to process them constructively, making us stronger and more reflective therapists.

Compassionate supervision: A necessity, not a Luxury

Music therapy is an emotionally demanding profession.

We hold space for others’ pain, trauma, and struggles, often absorbing complex emotional dynamics within our sessions. Without supervision, we risk burnout, emotional exhaustion, and even vicarious trauma.

Supervision acts as a safeguard - helping us process difficult sessions, understand the emotional impact of our work and ensure that we are not carrying our clients’ struggles in a way that becomes harmful to our own well-being. It allows us to approach our practice with renewed energy, insight, and clarity.

Continuing Professional Development

Ongoing supervision is for addressing difficulties while acting as a space for continuous learning and professional development. As therapists, we must remain open to new perspectives, research and approaches. Supervision allows us to integrate new knowledge, refine our techniques and stay ethically and musically engaged in our work.

It also offers an opportunity to celebrate successes. In a field where the impact of our work is not always immediately visible, supervision provides a space to acknowledge progress, both for our clients and for ourselves.

Supervision as a lifelong commitment

Music therapy supervision is not an obligation to fulfill but a gift to ourselves and our clients. It provides a space for deep reflection, compassionate inquiry and continuous professional growth. It allows us to process our work, learn from our challenges, and refine our skills so that we can offer the best possible therapy to those we serve.

By committing to regular supervision, we are not only upholding ethical standards but also committing to the ongoing evolution of our practice. The best therapists are those who never stop learning - and supervision is one of the most powerful tools we have to ensure that learning never stops.

Ready to deepen your practice and grow as a music therapist? Supervision offers the space to reflect, learn, and refine your skills. Click here to explore professional clinical supervision and take your practice to the next level.