CLINICAL SUPERVISION

Clinical Supervision is a structured and formal agreement between a Counsellor (Supervisee) and an experienced Practitioner/Supervisor.

The Supervisee will reflect regularly on their Clients and the process shared in the counselling room during sessions. The Supervisor is like a third person in the room.

It is important to say at this stage that during Supervision the clients details are not disclosed to the Supervisor, they are in-fact given a false name to protect the identity of the client so the work remains confidential.

There are three main aims to Clinical Supervision which are as follows:

A) To Support B) To Develop C) To Monitor

Implementation of the above process should strengthen and promote development of therapeutic competence,knowledge and skills. Whilst enhancing the quality of the work done in Therapy between Client/Counsellor.

This in turn helps to safeguard the Clients welfare ensuring the Supervisee is professional at all times working ethically and in a non-discriminatory way throughout their practice.

For the Supervisee it will enhance self-awareness through reflective practice. This work we undertake together should also provide the Supervisee with a protective mechanism against burnout, hopefully it will defuse against stress. The process is restorative and helps nourish emotional energy.

The Supervisor's role is to encourage the individualism of the Supervisee within safe limits, providing a relationship that will enable to Supervisee to develop their own way of working effectively with the Clients.Choosing a Supervisor is equally as important as when a Client chooses a Counsellor.

The Supervisee and Supervisor need to feel comfortable to work together to get the best from the process. Supervisee's should ask detailed and direct questions regarding the Supervisors training background, experience and style of Supervision. The over-all success of the supervision can depend upon the quality of the relationship between Supervisee and Supervisor.

A healthy professional relationship should consist of the Supervisor being able to challenge the Supervisee in a constructive way. Using encouragement and support whilst the Supervisee is broadening their learning and skills, should result in the Supervisee not feeling intimidated by the Supervisor's challenge. Moreover, stretched to grow to their full potential.

Honesty is an integral part of the relationship on both sides. Supervisee's should feel at ease with the Supervisor enough to show vulnerability if necessary and not hold back for fear of ridicule or unjust criticism.

Q. What can you expect from me?

Quality as outlined above. As a Person-Centred Supervisor I am a great believer in the Rogers Core Conditions. I treat people with Respect, Empathy and Congruence. Furthermore, you will have my undivided attention. I will not only listen I will hear you!

What Clinical Supervision is NOT!

It is not a disciplinary process, therefore the Supervisee should feel free to share any difficulties they face or experience without fear of judgement or disapproval.

It is not line management, but rather the focus is on the interaction in the room between the Supervisee and Client during the Counselling session, not the management of the case work

It is not training, or personal Counselling/Therapy.

Q. How much Supervision will I need?

The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy recommend the following guidelines:

If you are training to become a Counsellor, you should have one hour of supervision to every eight hours of Client work (including missed sessions).

Or one and a half hours of supervision a month, whichever is the greater amount.

If you are a Qualified Counsellor, you should receive a minimum of one and a half hours supervision a month.

Q. What happens once we have decided to work together?

We set up a meeting at an agreed time and place. During this meeting we discuss the terms of our contract together.

Subjects we will cover are as follows:

Times,place and duration between supervision sessions. We will discuss things such as boundaries, confidentiality,codes of ethics and practice,fees, expectations and preferences.