Supervision for the counsellor
My philosophy of supervision has been built up from what I have learnt as a client; as a counsellor; as an individual seeking to be happy, growing, listened to and understood; and as a supervisor. I feel that supervision is crucial for the professional care of the counsellor, and I see it as my responsibility as supervisor to create a safe, trusting and supporting environment where you, the practitioner, can feel open enough to bring your version of reality to the supervision space. While my overall approach is of an integrative model, I do take into account, and work with, counsellors on the basis of their own theoretical approach; my broad experience enables me to do that.
I believe that supervision is about integrating several steps: extending existing knowledge and incorporating new perspectives in relation to theory and intervention approach; providing support for the supervisee; and exploring the process and feelings between the relationships. As a supervisor it is important to be mindful of the depth of personal turmoil and suffering that can be evoked by clients and we need space to reflect upon this and to learn. We also need to be able to see, and understand, the client’s point of view while remaining centred in our own experiences.
In addition, I want supervision to be about enabling a counsellor to develop their own counselling model and personal style, and for them to be able to develop through interaction and self discovery, as well as to help to enable them to become a more reflective practitioner and so build their ‘internal supervisor’.