SUPERVISION

What is Supervision?
It is a formal arrangement and requirement for therapists to discuss their work regularly with someone who is experienced in both therapy and supervision.  The task is to work together to ensure and develop the efficiency of the therapists’ relationship with their client.  The agenda is the therapy and any feelings around that work.  It will include the supervisor’s reactions, comments, guidance and challenges.  This would ensure an adequate standard of therapy is maintained.  With a more experienced counsellor, supervision will aim to widen horizons.  Supervision should take into account different models of training, philosophy and methods of both the therapist and supervisor.
The recommendation is for a minimum of 1 ½ hours Supervision per calendar month though this may be increased in some situations.  Examples of these might be if the therapist is working with intensive trauma or have a particularly heavy caseload.  If you are a therapist working through an agency and have needed to secure your supervision independently then you will need to comply with the number of hours of supervision that your agency instructs.  There might also be occasion if you are a trainee to require more hours of supervision than the recommended minimum.  These are all situations we can agree on initially, before we contract into a professional arrangement, including expectations regarding tasks, roles and responsibilities being clarified.  There will need to be an agreement about the boundaries of confidentiality regarding the clients to who you are accountable.  This will vary depending on whether you are in training, working through an agency or in private practice.

Purpose of Supervision
My purpose of supervision is to support counsellors in the development of their professional work, with their clients, while ensuring they are working ethically and professionally.  Supervision is a requirement by the BACP and other professional bodies for the therapists’ safe and secure practice, with their clients, of counselling and psychotherapy.  It is necessary as therapy can place demands upon us as therapists; possibly becoming too involved, ignoring something important, becoming confused or even doubting our own usefulness.  Supervision gives the opportunity to discuss issues in confidence.  This can prove to be invaluable.  It is also a place to relate theory to practice and vice versa and this in turn aids further learning.  Supervision may help the development of your counselling practice.  Also I will make certain you are addressing the needs of your client while ensuring you are adhering to ethical standards. 

My Model of Supervision
Working as an Integrative counsellor, my model of supervision is to approach my supervisee from a client centred perspective providing them with an empathic environment to explore the issues they bring to supervision.   To carry out my supervisory functions I require knowledge of ethical codes and requirements.  I also need the necessary qualities and skills to encourage and empower you as therapists while exercising empathy and understanding to enable me to work at your pace.  I encourage my supervisees to find their own solutions and perhaps share some of my own experiences, when appropriate, to aid learning and flexibility in the advancement of client work.  I will clarify any feelings about these shared ideas, giving confidence, so my process may be challenged.  I hope as supervisees you could constructively confront so that we may explore further, together.  It is important to show you that I am not the expert, though I am the more experienced one, which does not always make us the most knowledgeable as learning can come from practice. 

I will invite you as supervisees to briefly inform me about your client base, possibly with a concise synopsis, and your working situations.  It is important to also explore clients who have not been presented when possible.  My approach is congruent and will facilitate and encourage you to challenge your approaches.  It is my intention to build a supportive therapeutic relationship with supervisees whilst retaining my position. 

Disclaimer
With all new supervisees I will ascertain your qualifications or training, professional membership and insurance.  This secures your ethical position and adherence to legitimate membership requirements.  I will always ask about your expectations of supervision and clarify my limitations and boundaries.  As a supervisor, I will support and guide, challenging as appropriate.  I will re-affirm our commitment and responsibilities to supervision by way of a signed contract.

I will be mindful of my supervisees’ feelings with clients and support you in acknowledging these and how they might affect best practice.  If there was a client issue that personally affects your professional work, I will encourage attending your own personal therapy to work on this.  I will explain about the boundary issues in trying to deal with this in supervision. 

An awareness of difference and diversity needs to be apparent in our work together to ensure there are equal opportunities.

I aim to support, accept and interact with my supervisees in a collaborative and confidential working manner.  I am aware I need a good understanding of different theoretical models, with a willingness and openness to declare what I may not know and would need to research. 

I hope this answers any questions you may have about supervision and how I work, but please do not hesitate to contact me for any further information.  You may do this by telephoning me on 01279 461089 or 07836 652734 or directly emailing me debbie@dscounselling.co.uk.

My fees for professional supervision are £40 per hour session.

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