Is Good Enough Good Enough?

I started a new job almost three months ago and I’m experiencing major feelings of inadequacy. I’ve always had confidence in my clinical skills but now I’m beginning to doubt my competence. My supervisor seems to be satisfied with my performance, so it isn’t a message I’m getting from him. In our supervision group last week when I brought up a challenging case, he remarked, “Andrea, you do seem to get the most interesting cases.”

Perhaps it’s because I’m getting many difficult cases and progress, if any, is slow. Perhaps it’s the client who wants an instant fix for his psychotic symptoms. Perhaps it’s the client who emailed the administrative team last week and said he wanted a clinician who was a “better fit.” When my supervisor asked me what the client meant by a better fit, I had to say he didn’t specify.

Although my last job was as a clinical supervisor, the demands were not sustainable. I was underpaid, working 11-to-12-hour days, supervising seven clinicians, reviewing all their notes and treatment plans, and screening all the intakes. I deliberately took a position as a staff psychotherapist at this job for an almost fifty percent salary increase with 8-to-9-hour days.

At work I recently became aware that they hired two clinical supervisors, each having about 30 years’ experience, which is six years more than me. I know that is one glaring hole in my career. Why have I not…