Clinical Supervision
Supervision is a formal arrangement for counsellors to discuss their work regularly with someone who is experienced in counselling and supervision.
The task is to work together to ensure and develop the efficacy of the therapist/client relationship. The agenda will be the counselling work and feeling about that work, together with the supervisor’s reactions, comments and challenges.
Thus supervision is a process to maintain adequate standards of counselling and a method of consultancy to widen the horizons of an experienced practitioner
Supervision is a formal arrangement for practitioners...
working in a variety of fields such as counselling, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, social care, teaching etc. to discuss their work regularly with someone who is suitably trained and experienced. The task is to ensure and develop the efficacy of the practitioner/ client relationship.The agenda will be the chosen work and feeling about that work i.e. therapy, together with the supervisor’s reactions, challenges, comments and guidance. Your supervisor will monitor your practice and see that you uphold ethical standards for your profession. Thus supervision is a process to maintain adequate standards within your field of practice and a method of consultancy to widen the view of the practitioner/ client relationship and an opportunity to further your professional and personal development.
In choosing a supervisor, practitioners need to assess their needs and to decide the main focus of the work they take to supervision; taking into account their own training, philosophy and methods.
Agencies and institutions may have their own criteria for supervision and provide supervisors from within the organisation. Where outside supervision is more appropriate, considerable discussion and negotiation may be needed to arrange time away from work, financial support and assurance of confidentiality. Private practitioners must arrange their own supervision.
Supervision is essential for professional practitioners
By its very nature, client centred work makes considerable demands upon practitioners who may become over-involved, overlook some important point, become confused as to what is taking place within a particular client or have doubts about their own usefulness. It is sometimes hard to remain objective within client centred work and therefore having another, experienced practitioner is paramount to explore issues, evaluate skills and connect theory to practice.
Good supervision can help the practitioner to evolve their practice and provide an arena for professional and personal growth.The supervisor can ensure that the practitioner is addressing the needs of the client and monitor the relationship between the practitioner and client, to maximise the therapeutic effectiveness of the relationship, ensuring that the practitioner is working for the benificence of the client.
Though not concerned primarily with training, personal therapy or line management, supervisors will encourage and facilitate the ongoing self-development, continued learning and self-monitoring of the professional practitioner.
