Clinical supervision is at the core of every counsellor and therapist’s practice. Not only is it essential to meet professional requirements, but it’s also a source of learning, support and guidance. More than anything, it should be a safe space for you to develop and grow as a therapist. But how can you ensure you get the most out of clinical supervision? Before we address this question, let’s explore why supervision is so important.
The Benefits of Clinical Supervision
At its best, supervision is a place where I offload. I share things that are worrying me, things I’m feeling frustrated with, and things I’m unsure how to handle. Supervision gives me space to figure things out so I can decide whether I need to take action or not.
My current supervisor is an expert in the field and more knowledgeable than I am. Whenever I’m stuck, I can pick her brain for ideas. She always points me in the direction of helpful literature and information I might not have come across otherwise. I’ve cried in supervision, I’ve laughed in supervision and I’ve even sworn in supervision! My supervisor has always been flexible, adapting to what I needed in the moment.
When I’ve had to make big decisions about my work life, I’ve used supervision as a sounding board to help me get clarity around what I want and what I need to do in my career. Whenever I’ve experienced a crisis of confidence, particularly when I was training to become an EMDR facilitator and when I began lecturing at universities, my supervisors have been my biggest cheerleaders, encouraging me and questioning my self-doubt in a gentle way. They’ve pushed me to pursue the things they knew I could achieve.
At one point in my career, my supervisor highlighted my own need for therapy when some personal issues were making work more challenging. I really valued the dialogue we had about my needs as a human being and the encouragement to seek the right support.
How to Get the Most Out of Supervision
While most of the supervision I’ve received has been helpful, some of it’s been awful! For a long time, I didn’t fully understand how to use supervision as my own space rather than what the organisation I worked for wanted it to be. For example, I’ve seen clinical supervision used as a tool for managing people’s caseloads rather than supporting their wellbeing or improving clinical care.
For me, the most important thing is that supervision feels safe. It needs to be a good learning space where we sometimes feel challenged, but never at the expense of our psychological safety. If someone feels criticised in supervision and afraid to show vulnerability, it cannot be effective. You need to feel you can be honest and that your honesty will be met with compassion. Feedback on your practice should be grounded in solid theory and delivered in a way that’s constructive and helpful.
This is why finding the right supervisor is so important. If you’re able to choose your own, I recommend speaking to a few and asking them some key questions about their style, their approach, what you can bring to sessions and whether that’s going to meet your needs. Bear in mind, different supervisors might be a good fit at different points in your career. You might have a particular supervisor for a very specific reason and then move on. It’s important to check in, make sure sessions are still meeting your needs, and that your supervisor feels they’re able to facilitate something that’s helpful and useful.
It’s also important to have agreed boundaries around the relationship with your supervisor. Clarify what’s expected of each of you and run through any accreditation processes or training requirements that need to be met.
You’ll get the most out of your supervision sessions by thinking ahead about what you want to achieve. Be clear about what you’d like to bring to the session and what you’d like to leave with. Is it an answer to a question? Is it reassurance? Is it new information? Or do you need support in coming to a decision? Knowing what you want will help your supervisor support you in achieving your desired outcome.
Supervisors Need Supervision Too
Supervision is important for clinical work, but it’s also vital for those of us in a supervisory role. In my experience, this is an area that’s often overlooked, but we need a place to take our questions about any supervision we’re providing. We need to be able to discuss any issues, check the information we’re giving, and develop our own supervisory skills.
About Shelley
I am a qualified, trauma informed Clinical Supervisor with experience supporting individuals, groups and trainees. I’m also an EMDR Consultant and Training Facilitator, a BABCP accredited CBT therapist and lecturer and a RN(MH). My supervision style is relaxed, supportive and focussed on providing a safe space to learn and share knowledge. Past supervisees have told me they feel like I genuinely care about them, their wellbeing and that of their clients. Learn more about my services here and please get in touch to discuss working with me.
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