Coach Supervision: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why It Matters

What supervision really is—how it supports coaches, why it’s often misunderstood, and what happens when you have a place to bring the complexities of your work. 

By Liz Stewart

Supervision. The word itself can be misleading. Many people assume it’s about being observed—evaluated, assessed, or critiqued. But that’s not what coaching supervision is. It’s not about being watched. It’s about having a space to reflect, process, and grow in your work.

This summer, I sat down with my Reboot Supervision colleague Cassandra Field and Reboot co-founder Ali Schultz to talk about what supervision really is—how it supports coaches, why it’s often misunderstood, and what happens when you have a place to bring the complexities of your work. Here are the nuggets from our conversation.

Many coaches assume they don’t need supervision, or they’re not quite sure what it offers. Our hope is that as you read, you’ll gain insight into why supervision isn’t just another professional development tool—it’s an essential part of coaching well, avoiding burnout, and continuing to evolve in the work.

I’ve always been interested in how supervision is embedded in other professions—it’s just part of the system. In psychotherapy, social work, and even coaching in the UK, it’s understood that having supervision is the next logical step after training. Either you graduate from a program and step into supervision, or you’ve been coaching for a while and realize you need support.

In the U.S., though, coaching can be isolating. Many coaches work alone, often believing they should have everything figured out by themselves. But coaching is relational work. We hold space for others in deep, transformative ways. Why wouldn’t we want that same kind of space for ourselves?

I remember early on in my coaching career, I had a session that didn’t sit right with me. The client didn’t say anything particularly challenging, but when we ended, I felt off. A little tense. A little unsure. I couldn’t pinpoint why.

That’s when I really understood the power of supervision. I brought it to my supervision group, and in talking it through, I realized something about my own reactions in the session. It wasn’t just about what happened with the client—it was about me. Supervision gave me a place to unpack that, make sense of it, and leave feeling clearer and more grounded.

Overcoming Resistance 

Most coaches resist supervision at first. It is not just another form of training or a new set of tools. It’s about how we use the ones we already have.

Self doubt is common for coaches new and old. One day, you’re having an incredible session and think, “I am so good at this.” The next day, a difficult client can leave you spiraling: “What am I even doing here!? Am I actually helping?”

Supervision is the place to bring those questions. And more importantly, it gives you people who understand. There’s something powerful about realizing that every coach—no matter how experienced—has moments of doubt. Supervision didn’t just help coaches navigate challenges. It helps coaches gain more self trust.

Life Before Coach Supervision

What strikes me most about supervision is how much it mirrors what we do as coaches. We hold space for our clients to reflect, explore, and grow. Supervision does the same for us.

I remember working with a client who made me so anxious. Every time I saw their name on my calendar, I’d tense up. I couldn’t figure out why. It wasn’t until I brought it to supervision that I realized—this client reminded me of someone from my past.

Without supervision, I might have carried that anxiety into every session. Instead, I was able to name it, work through it, and show up for my client with real presence instead of unconscious tension.

Supervision helps us see what we don’t see. Blind spots, emotional reactions, unconscious patterns. And when we can name those things, we can shift them.

Coaching can feel isolating. As a solo practitioner, you don’t always have a place to process the complexities of your work. You might start believing you should have all the answers. But coaching isn’t about having answers. It’s about being in the right relationship with the questions that serve your client.

Another important piece for solo coaches is: How can you leave your work in your office? In what ways does work come home with you?  

Before supervision, I’d find myself replaying sessions while making dinner, or carrying tension in my body from a difficult conversation. Supervision gave me a space to process those things so they didn’t follow me home.

Supervision is self-care for the coach committed to their own growth and their craft. It’s where a coach gets to say, “This client is really challenging me,” or “I feel stuck,” and receive support.

Or, as my colleague Cassandra said so well:

“Supervision is the difference between feeling like you’re lost at sea with a broken oar versus realizing there’s a whole crew of people on a cruise ship ahead waiting to pull you aboard.”

What makes a mature coach is not someone who knows it all, but someone who is willing to keep learning, reflecting, and growing. Most coaches who have experienced supervision realize: coaching without it isn’t just harder, it’s lonelier.

What could your coaching be like if you had supervision?

If you’ve ever felt isolated in your work, if you’ve ever had a session that left you feeling unsettled, if you’ve ever questioned yourself more than you’d like—supervision might be exactly what you need.

Supervision isn’t about proving yourself. It’s about having a space that’s just for you—so that you can show up even more fully for your clients.

Are you ready to experience what’s possible? Let’s talk about supervision.