An informal study is presented in which supervisory sessions with child psychiatry trainees are tape recorded and portions are listened to in a subsequent supervisory hour. The author describes her own initial discomfort at listening and making observations on her supervisory techniques. The trainees' reaction to listening was more varied and complex. At first pain when listening was experienced, but ultimately the experience shed light on the trainee's own defenses and the relationship of these to the therapy. It also increased insight into the patient's pathology and produced some understanding of the supervisory process.