Creative Clinical Supervision

In every aspect of my role as a trainee clinical supervisor, I hold in mind core values which facilitate and support the development of an effective supervisory relationship.

  1. Connection - an emotional alliance, based on respect, trust and a sense of safety.

  2. Collaboration - both the supervisor and supervisee have their voice heard whilst exploring their experiences, ideas, values and feelings.

  3. Containment - the supervisee feels safe that the supervisor will be able to cope with their expression of strong emotions.

  4. Maintenance - attention is paid to the ways in which the relationship develops over time - any ruptures or difficulties are explored and processed.

A commitment to reflective practice is also a vital aspect to supervision, expressive writing helping to conceptualise clinical work and acting as a self-care tool. You can read more about how I utilise poetry as a form of self- supervision in an article entitled ‘Moments of Possibility’ which first appeared (p.16) in the September 2024 issue of BACP Children, Young People & Families Journal published by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/bacp-children-young-people-and-families-journal/  ©BACP 2024.

Supervision is a place where the echoes of client work and a way of being can be heard, offering the supervisee a platform from which to view the landscape of their client’s life, their own experiences, the client relationship and the supervisory relationship from different points of view.

  • Relationship based practice lies at the heart of effective supervision