Supervision

Supervision

My approach to supervision is to provide a supportive and relational space, where you can explore and reflect on your work without judgment or blame.  While not therapy, it can sometimes be helpful for you to discuss whatever might be going on in your life that is impacting your work and how you approach self-care.   Theory and skills development can be useful to discuss, but supervision also requires a commitment to be reflexive about therapeutic process - ruptures, stuckness and parallel processes are all part of this, not forgetting the opportunity to celebrate success.

I believe a creative approach really benefits the supervisory process, as a means of getting in touch with the complex, often unconscious, processes that we might be working with, but this would always be with your agreement.

I am experienced at providing both individual and group supervision, both face to face and online.

I always welcome any enquiries regarding supervision - please get in touch if you would like to discuss any aspect of this further.

I currently supervise counsellors working both with adults and children and young people. I have particular experience in supervising those working with CYP, having supervised school based counsellors and play therapists, as well as having provided supervision for counsellors working for Help! Counselling in Bristol and Place2Be.

A creative approach can be really helpful when engaging with this work, as there are crossovers between the types of strategies used with CYP and those that are helpful in supervision, eg: use of sandtray, imagery and metaphor, use of art materials.  I have a well-equipped room to facilitate this type of work.

I take an integrative, relational and compassionate approach, based on humanistic, systemic and psychodynamic ideas but can and do  supervise those working with other approaches.

I offer consultative supervision for professionals, particularly those working with children and families, such as school staff and social workers.  Although it can be rewarding, working with children, young people and families can often also be stressful and demanding and professionals can experience difficult and painful challenges when faced with, for example, distressed students, worried parents and safeguarding issues.

Supervision can provide a separate, supportive and sometimes challenging places for you to explore the demands and impact of your work and whatever personal needs you have at the time.  Re-charging in  this way supports your personal and professional well-being and effectiveness and helps you maintain the energy and enthusiasm for your work.  I have worked in schools as a counsellor, supervisor and counselling project manager, which is a useful background that helps me in supporting school staff in particular. 

I have also worked as a Clinical Manager for a large counselling agency and have an understanding of the demands of this type of role.