Supervision

All counsellors and psychotherapists, no matter how highly trained and experienced, are required to have a minimum of 1½ hours supervision each month. It is our opportunity to talk with complete confidentiality to another experienced practitioner about all aspects of our work - areas that we want to learn more about, our concerns, fears, successes and mistakes. Supervision is bound by a similar ethical framework to our work with clients, to ensure that we work only for our clients good and within a safe boundary of confidentiality.

I have trained at The Iron Mill Institute (Exeter) as a supervisor. When supervising other trained practitioners I work collegially in a relationship offering empathic understanding, respect, exploration, challenge and support. I have over 10 years experience as a counsellor in Primary Care working for GP practices so I understand the particular requirements, constraints, joys and diversity of this time-limited work. I also understand the psychodynamics of long-term therapeutic work. As an ex-teacher I am familiar with issues of childhood and adolescence in the context of education and supervise practitioners working in schools and colleges.

I also supervise trainee counsellors, which, in addition, may involve communication with the training establishment and placement. There is more of a teaching role here too. I get a great buzz from seeing emerging counsellors gain confidence and grow into their role in the profession. Making sure that they are working safely and within their competence and being properly mentored and supported in their training and placement is important to me because if any of this is neglected it can jeapardise that growth.

Many people do not have an ethical requirement for supervision even though their work involves high levels of stress and emotional investment. Perhaps some examples of these are doctors, nurses, paramedics, teachers, police officers, fire fighters and solicitors. This doesn’t mean that they don’t need an opportunity to talk in confidence about different aspects of their work with someone who has no place in their line management.

I would be delighted to talk about supervision with you, whatever your profession.