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Clinical supervision is extremely important in the counselling profession for both beginners and the more advanced counsellor. As an experienced psychotherapist, I seek supervision whether it be for help with diagnosis, working with a client whose presenting an issue is unfamiliar to me, identifying blind spots, exploring dilemmas or when seeking advice on trying new techniques. 

Being a clinical supervisor for the past five years has been rewarding and insightful. There is still much more to be experienced and much more to learn during this process.

My current supervision philosophy combines person-centred, psychodynamic, solution-focused, cognitive behavioural and mindfulness theories. I see these theories as an extension of who I am as a person and a practitioner.

It’s important for me to combine these theories into my supervision practice, as I believe it gives the supervisee a greater supervision experience. I believe that sticking rigorously to one framework could create a supervisory experience that is less effective as opposed to combining several different ones.

At the most basic of levels, supervision means overseeing another individual. This is extremely true of the supervisory process in counselling and is a requirement of the BACP. Counsellors-in-training must receive one and a half hours a month of supervision in order to become registered practitioners. However, overseeing supervisees is not enough. As a qualified and experienced supervisor, I’m responsible for the clinical safety of my supervisee’s clients.

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