What is it?
It is where a supervisor and supervisee set a contract to work together towards developing the competence of the supervisee in the context of the helping work that they perform. The professional aims include a duty of care for both the supervisee and their client in the work they do together.
Who needs it?
Supervision is compulsory for those who work as registered counsellors and psychotherapists. It is part of the ethical principles we all agree to abide by as part of this professional status and membership
Supervision is also seen as part and parcel of good practice in coaching and other helping professions.
What does it do?
Peter Hawkins and Robin Shohet 2007 (Reference 8) have produced a useful text about supervision in the helping professions. They explain how supervision has a number of functions, which include:
Education – helping the supervisee understand their client better and helping them become more aware of their own reactions and responses Supportive – helping the supervisee deal with any reactions to distressing material Managerial – this is about taking responsibility with the supervisee to ensure that the ethical standards of the profession are maintained.
My approach
I have undertaken professional training with the Scottish Institute of Human Relations (SIHR). The approach involves understanding the unconscious dynamics that occur between helpers and their clients and the influence of the relevant organisational context within which the work is undertaken – and how these are communicated within the supervisory relationship.
By considering the unconscious dimension in their work, the supervisee is able to stand back and consider a different perspective, which can add considerably to understanding of what their client or patient brings.
I undertake regular consultancy for my supervisory practice.
What I offer
For counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists and other individuals involved in the helping professions:
- Psychodynamically informed supervision on a one-to-one basis
- Group psychodynamic supervision Offered primarily to those who are able to attend sessions in Perth, Scotland but can be offered at other locations by arrangement. For coaches:
- Individual and group supervision for independent coaches
- Individual and group supervision on site in the UK for organisations with internal coaching/mentoring programmes
- Facilitated learning groups in organisations