Failing an Internship

I’m currently in the middle of my social work field placement, and I’m facing some challenges that have me feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward. I wanted to share my situation and ask for advice from those of you who’ve been through similar experiences.

My field supervisor recently told me she’s considering recommending that I restart my placement because she feels I’m struggling to reflect my clients’ emotions effectively. I had one patient who has not returned my calls after the second meeting, and my supervisor doesn't want to let me have any other patient until this is resoved... but the clock is ticking. I understand this is an important skill in our work, and I’ve been trying my best to improve, but I’m feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what steps to take next.

I’ve talked to my supervisor about this, but the feedback feels vague, and I’m not sure how to meet expectations. It’s frustrating because I genuinely want to do well and grow from this experience. On top of that, my placement school has made it clear that if I can’t move past this, my placement could be postponed or potentially fail.

To give a bit more context, I’m not someone who’s slacking off or avoiding responsibility—I’m showing up, putting in effort, and genuinely trying to learn. But despite this, I’m hitting this roadblock, and it’s taking a toll on my confidence.

For those of you who are social workers or have been in field placements, have you ever dealt with something similar? How did you handle it? Are there strategies I can use to develop my skills in reflecting emotions or navigating feedback like this?

I’d really appreciate any advice, words of encouragement, or tips you might have. I’m determined to make this work, but right now, I just feel stuck and need a bit of guidance to get back on track.

Thank you so much for reading and for any help you can offer.

-Sorry if my English isn't perfect