Top 6 tips for navigating relationships with Fieldwork Educators

Updated by Tyler Hood and Kiera Mooney in December 2024

As a student, the prospect of leaving the safety and comfort of the classroom; campus resources; and familiar professors, staff, and friends for a Level II fieldwork can be somewhat unsettling. Fieldwork placements vary tremendously, and each site holds unique challenges. When transitioning to your fieldwork site, it is important to remember that as a student, you are there to learn, first and foremost. Most fieldwork educators (FWEs) recognize that students will make mistakes, ask a plethora of questions, come from diverse backgrounds, and have different experiences and comfort levels with the setting. While your FWE is likely to be understanding and helpful through this experience, as a student, it may be stressful to be observed and critiqued on a regular basis and to navigate a relationship with someone who is likely to be different from you in some aspects, whether it be communication style, personality, routines, organization, or learning and teaching approaches. Building a relationship with your FWE requires skills that are similar to building a relationship with your clients. A candid relationship between fieldwork student and educator can facilitate successful application of classroom knowledge into clinical practice and prepare students to confidently enter into the profession. To gain the most out of your fieldwork experience, consider using the following tips for developing a strong relationship with your FWE.

Communicate often with your FWE

Schedule regular, daily meetings with your FWE to discuss your caseload and concerns, ask questions, and set goals for your remaining time on fieldwork. Consider filling out a weekly review form with your successes and areas of improvement throughout the fieldwork journey. Setting this time aside should make it easier to approach your FWE and ensure that important issues are discussed in a timely way, and not put to the side.

Be professional at all times

Remember, this is a professional job (even though a paycheck is not involved). The impressions you make on fieldwork matter and can make or break the ability to utilize your FWE as a reference for a future job. We all get frustrated and need to vent, but save this for a family member, friend, or cat. Your FWE does not need to hear about it. If you are feeling overwhelmed during fieldwork, find a way to vent in a healthy manner, such as taking a short walk or stepping outside to practice some deep breathing. Avoid addressing difficult issues with your FWE when your emotions are high. If there are serious concerns you feel need to be addressed with your FWE, find a way to do it calmly and professionally. Sometimes writing down the concerns and reading them can help and relieve some pressure. Consider refining professional behavior as important as demonstrating competency with clinical skills.

Be open to suggestions for improvement and feedback from your FWE

Unless you’re a rare breed who agrees with everything everyone says, you are going to disagree with your FWE, and that is okay—in fact it is good, because it means you are able to think for yourself. Keep in mind that your FWE has a different perspective and experience level than you and offers critiques not to make you feel bad, but to help you learn. Encourage your FWE to express feedback to you and let yourself be open and listen to what they have to say.

Share what you learned in school

Most FWEs value not only teaching students, but learning from them as well. If you find your supervisor using techniques that are outdated or conflict with current evidence-based practice, take the time to understand why your FWE uses those techniques and ask if they would be open to a possible adjustment. When trying new approaches at your fieldwork site, you must be able to point to the evidence and be able to have a well-versed conversation to justify your approach.

Be the best you can be in every moment, every day of your fieldwork

You don’t have to give 110% all of the time, and you will not know all the answers, which your FWE does not expect. However, your FWE does expect you to be fully engaged, and by trying your best with every client encounter, every note, and every interaction, you will increase the likelihood of retaining and learning more than you thought possible. Even if you make mistakes, which will be inevitable, your FWE will appreciate your hard work and good intentions to make the most out of your experience.

Be proactive when it comes to identifying the needs of your patients and the site

Review clinical conditions, assessments, and evidence-based practice techniques; always be prepared for your sessions; and try to anticipate what your FWE might need you to do. Most FWEs appreciate not having to delegate tasks at every moment and will value your proactivity, as long as you have demonstrated your competence and you do not overstep supervision policies and guidelines. Following these recommendations and staying committed to learning during your time in fieldwork will support your growth as a future practitioner and benefit your relationship with the FWE.