Besides being an important part of both clinical and personal development, supervision for therapists is an essential safety net for both the therapist and their clients.

I am currently (August 2024 - June 2025) in placement working towards my hours to qualify for my supervision certification.

Why have supervision?

From the NCPS website (June 2024)

Supervision is a valuable way of "checking in" with a more experienced practitioner thus supporting and ensuring counsellors stay grounded, maintain professional and ethical boundaries, develop their knowledge, both theoretically and practically, as well as focus on self-care to avoid "burnout". Supervision is fundamental to the provision of safe, ethical and competent counselling.

From the BACP website (June 2024)

"A specialised form of mentoring provided for practitioners responsible for undertaking challenging work with people. Supervision is provided to ensure standards, enhance quality, advance learning, stimulate creativity, and support the sustainability and resilience of the work being undertaken."

From the UKCP website (June 2024)

The main purpose of supervision is to ensure the efficacy of the therapist’s psychotherapy practice which, in turn, will enable a therapist to work towards the best possible psychotherapy practice for their clients.

Supervision is conducted within a formal working relationship. But it can take different constructs such as in groups, on a one-to-one basis, by telephone, by internet, in writing or by video.

How much supervision do I need?

That depends on the recommendations from your membership body, how many client facing sessions you are doing and most importantly the nature of the work and the context of the other events going on in your life.

I am a member of the NCPS and the BACP and both organisations recommend a minimum of 1.5 hours supervision per month.

How much will it cost?

A 1.5 hour session will cost £100.

Any additional hours will be charged pro-rata.

How does a supervision session work?

Once a month we have a 1.5 hour session booked and you will bring a number of clients for review. You decide on the clients and you decide which aspects you want to explore.

Then much like a therapy session we follow where the stories take us.

Why should I pick you as my supervisor?

Because of how I work. If it suits how you work then our collaboration will enable you to continue to do what you do and develop your therapeutic way of being further.

Much like the therapist/client relationship  the relationship between therapist and supervisor is an important part of the effectiveness and efficiency of supervision.

What will supervision with you be like?

I use humour in my work and gentle challenge and I expect you to come prepared with notes around what we will be exploring.   In return I offer a safe and supportive space for you to unload (when required); for you to explore how the work feels; for you to work through challenges; for you to be recognised and validated; and for you to develop your skills and progress in your practice.

Just like client therapy this is collaborative work and I can't do it without you.

 I believe this is an important part of the work you do and if you just want to complete the hours to comply with membership regulations then I'm probably not the right supervisor for you.

My training was based on the Seven Eyed Model developed by Hawkins and Shohet.

So, in brief, in any one session, discussing any specifc client, we could be looking at any or even many of the following:

• The work you have been doing with the client,
• How you feel about the client,
• How your description of the client presents to me,
• How I feel about your work or how your work is impacting on our relationship,
• How safe you are,
• How safe the client is
• What else is going on in the clients world or your world