Supervision

The word supervision generally means someone who looks at your work or has authority over you. In the therapy world this is entirely different. Supervision in this context means the process of providing support and guidance so that the needs of the client are responded to with understanding and insight.

Supervision can greatly reduce the anxiety of the counsellor whilst being creative about approaches, thereby increasing the counsellor's self esteem and assisting them to develop their own methods of working and being.

Supervision is a place to challenge you, whilst supporting you and it's also a place to 'play'.

All therapists in the United Kingdom would be expected to have Clinical Supervision at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy's recommended ratios (e.g. six hours of counselling requires one hour of supervison).

The way I work

I would allow a lot of moving around your client, in order to perceive your client in new ways.

It would not be necessary for us to be the same orientation, as supervision from another perspective can be a broadening and enlightening experience.

I would be tolerant and accepting of your approach, whilst sharing but not imposing my own views and ideas.

I have been trained in an Integrative way so that I work in a new way incorporating many models, bringing them all together as a creative whole.

It would be important for me to understand your level of training so that I can offer appropriate help to fit in with your skills and needs.

There are many models to use to ensure that a recognition of the skill level of the counsellor can be used to enhance the counsellor's work with the supervisor.

Supervision areas

Together we would look at:

Using supervision to make you feel safe-offering support and protection especially whilst training. I would take the clinical responsibility for your clients whilst you were training.
Seeing your work from a helicopter view that will give you new insight, and create some 'aha' moments.
The exploration of transference and counter transference, and the parallel processes that may be occurring.
Ensuring that you are working in an appropriate way within ethical standards.
Encouraging you with 'stuck ness' and giving you a fresh view of clients and their material
The working alliance and therapeutic relationships you have with your clients.

I take my responsibilities as a supervisor very seriously.

I have had many years of experience and this experience has now been combined with completing a Diploma in Integrative Supervision from the British Counselling Training Association.

I will get to know your clients through you, and together we will focus, explore and reflect on the client - counsellor issues.

Supervision requirements

In order to do this I will need to have some information about:

How you work, and the setting.
How you contract work with the client, the number of current clients ,the number of sessions you offer and how often you would see clients.
Details of the clients, their backgrounds; some history of their cases; any medications they take; how they feel about themselves.
Why the client is seeking help, and what they had done previously to seek help.
What are the most significant issues at the moment for the client ?
How are you in the therapeutic process; what is new, are there any blocks to the process ?
How are you using the theoretical models ?
What do you want from supervision - what will you be expecting from me?

Client presentation

As a counsellor you may present your clients in a variety of ways:

You may bring tape recordings of your sessions, and we may use the technique of Interpersonal Process Recall.
You may keep notes and bring them to our sessions.
You may want to stay in the here and now and bring what is topmost in your mind at the time of the appointment.

Group Supervision and Other Supervision

I am available for Group Supervision and Supervision for staff and carers in other settings e.g. Primary Care Trusts, Hospitals, Respite Care Homes, Hospices, Charities, Police and Fire Stations, Youth Offending Teams, Drug Rehabilitation , Voluntary Counselling Organisations etc.

How we work together will be up to us !