A philosophy of clinical supervision
Supervision is a form of professional mentoring to ensure appropriate standards in the counselling profession. Supervision is an opportunity for in depth reflection; a valuable way of “checking in” with a more experienced practitioner. Supervision aims to enhance quality, increase resilience and stimulate creativity. Quality supervision helps to sustain the personal resourcefulness of counsellors to undertake the work whilst also being a space to expand and be challenged.
Supporting and ensuring that as counsellors we stay grounded, maintain professional and ethical boundaries, and develop theoretical and practical knowledge. Supervisee and supervisor working well together provide effective, safe, ethical therapy for our clients.
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I offer supervisees a strong, safe, encouraging relationship, where their autonomy is respected. An environment to learn new things and gain insights into their therapeutic work with clients. As a therapist you will be supported to make difficult decisions and motivated towards positive action. Emphasis is placed on reflection, growth and self governance.
Supervision works best when we embrace the opportunity to be open and honest, when we are able to discuss difficulties occurring with clients without blame or judgement. Being encouraged to share and unload the burden of complex and challenging work and a focus on self-care to avoid “burnout” are important aspects of supervision.
I maintain high levels of good practice for the work I supervise, ensuring the application of the ethical framework to the client work, particularly with regard to competence and professionalism, relationship building, the management of personal boundaries, any dual relationships, conflicts of interest and avoiding exploitation.
A Process Model of Supervision - Hawkins and Shohet
Reflection on the content of the therapy session
Exploration of the interventions used
Exploration of the therapy process and relationships
A focus on counter-transference
A focus on parallel process
Any supervisory counter-transference
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