For Trainees
Drama Therapy Supervision
What supervision is, what NADTA requires, how to find a BCT supervisor, and how to get the most from your supervisory relationship.
What supervision is, what NADTA requires, how to find a BCT supervisor, and how to get the most from your supervisory relationship.
Clinical supervision is required for the RDT credential and remains a regular part of practice afterward. RDT candidates need monthly supervision with an RDT-BCT (Board Certified Trainer) during training and the post-graduation hours phase. Costs typically run $80 to $200 per supervision hour. Group supervision is cheaper and adds peer learning; individual supervision goes deeper into specific cases. This page covers how to find a supervisor, what to expect, and the BCT pathway.
Clinical supervision is a formal professional relationship in which a more experienced practitioner (the supervisor) supports a trainee or less experienced therapist (the supervisee) in developing their clinical skills, professional identity, and ethical practice. It is distinct from management, mentorship, or personal therapy, though it may have elements of each.
In drama therapy, supervision typically involves:
Drama therapy supervision is distinctive in that it often uses dramatic and experiential methods within the supervisory relationship itself. Roleplay, embodied exploration, and dramatic enactment can be used to illuminate clinical dynamics in ways that verbal reflection alone cannot.
To qualify for the RDT credential, NADTA requires a minimum of:
Supervision received during an approved graduate program typically counts toward these requirements, subject to NADTA verification. Students should confirm with their program director how practicum supervision is documented for credential purposes.
Only two count toward NADTA hours, know which before you pay.
| Individual | Group | Peer consultation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | 1:1 with a BCT | 3 to 8 supervisees + BCT | Qualified peers, no designated supervisor |
| Counts toward RDT? | Yes, 60 hours required | Yes, beyond the 60 individual hours | No, post-credential practice only |
| Session length | 50 to 90 min | 90 to 120 min | Variable, often 90 min monthly |
| Best for | Personalised clinical formation | Peer learning + affordability | Sustained reflective practice after RDT |
| Typical cost | $100 to 180 per session | $40 to 80 per session | Free / reciprocal |
Peer consultation (structured collegial discussion between qualified peers without a designated supervisor) does not count toward NADTA credentialing requirements, but is strongly encouraged as ongoing professional practice after credentialing. Many RDTs participate in peer consultation groups throughout their careers.
The most direct route is NADTA's online directory, which lists BCTs who are available for supervision. You can filter by location, specialty, and online availability. Visit nadta.org and search the member directory for "Board Certified Trainers."
Most approved graduate programs have established relationships with BCT supervisors in their region and can facilitate introductions. Program faculty are often BCTs themselves and may offer supervision directly or can refer you to trusted colleagues.
The annual NADTA conference and regional chapter events are excellent opportunities to meet potential supervisors in person. Many BCTs actively offer supervision to conference attendees and can be approachable in this context.
Remote supervision via video call has become standard practice and significantly expands your access to qualified supervisors. You are not limited to your geographic area. Online supervision can be just as effective as in-person, though for drama therapy it is worth discussing with potential supervisors how they work with the embodied and experiential dimensions of the work remotely.
The supervisory relationship is where a lot of clinical formation actually happens. Consider:
Most BCTs offer an initial consultation meeting to discuss fit before committing to an ongoing supervisory relationship. Use this to ask questions and assess whether the relationship feels right.
The supervisor you can be honest with about a session that went badly will shape your practice more than the supervisor with the most impressive CV. Book the consultation. Trust the room.
The supervisors who shaped a practitioner's clinical thinking are often mentioned years later. To make the most of it:
Chesner & Zografou, Jones & Doktor, Lahad, Shohet, Tselikas-Portmann, see the supervision section for the full reading list.
Headway lets licensed therapists in private practice accept insurance without becoming in-network with each insurer separately. They handle credentialing, claims, and reimbursement, and pay you as your clients are seen. Useful if you want to expand access without taking on the administrative load.
NADTA requires a minimum of 500 total supervised clinical hours (of which at least 250 must be direct client contact) and 60 hours of individual supervision (one-on-one with a BCT). All supervision must be provided by a BCT, a Board Certified Trainer, which is NADTA's advanced credentialing level for supervisors.
BCT stands for Board Certified Trainer. NADTA's advanced credential that qualifies an RDT to supervise others seeking the RDT credential. To become a BCT, practitioners must have extensive clinical and supervisory experience beyond the RDT level and meet additional NADTA requirements. Only BCTs can provide supervision that counts toward NADTA credentialing. See nadta.org/board-certified-trainers-bct for current requirements.
The primary route is NADTA's online directory at nadta.org, which lists BCTs available for supervision by location and specialty. Graduate programs also facilitate supervisor connections. Online supervision via video call is widely accepted and significantly expands access, you are not limited to your geographic area. The NADTA annual conference is also an excellent place to meet potential supervisors.
Yes. Group supervision led by a BCT can count toward the required supervision hours, though NADTA requires at least 60 hours of individual (one-on-one) supervision specifically. Group supervision is often more affordable and provides valuable peer learning alongside the individual supervision requirement.
Yes. Online supervision via video call is standard practice and NADTA-accepted. Remote supervision significantly expands access to qualified BCT supervisors beyond your geographic area. When working remotely with a supervisor in drama therapy, it is worth discussing how embodied and experiential dimensions of the work will be explored in the online format.