Welcome to Beyond the Chair: The Therapist’s Companion

Have you ever felt alone in the work of being a therapist? Like no one quite understands the burnout, the quiet wins, the self-doubt, or the messy middle of this work? In the very first episode of Beyond the Chair: The Therapist’s Companion, host Sonya Andersen-Haile, MS, LPC, NCC shares why this podcast exists and who it’s for. Drawing from her own early experiences in community mental health and supervision, Sonya reflects on how supervision can miss the mark and how much growth, clarity, and connection it could offer when done well. This episode sets the foundation for the podcast: honest conversations about counseling as a craft, the gaps many clinicians experience in supervision, and the importance of reflection, consultation, and community in a profession that can feel increasingly isolating. Sonya also explains how the podcast will work, including the difference between the free episodes and the optional subscription experience, and invites listeners into the first upcoming deep-dive case. Whether you’re a student, intern, licensed clinician, or supervisor, this space is for you—to think, question, learn, and feel a little less alone in the work. Chapters (00:00:00) - Therapist Companion: Feel Lonely in the Work?(00:10:01) - What Clinical Supervision Is(00:14:57) - The Therapist Companion(00:16:24) - Intro to the Deep Dive(00:17:37) - A Case From Brilliant Minds