2.
Supervision
The question is what do you want from supervision? What are you looking for in a supervisor?
“Supervision is the creation of that free space where the supervisee lets themself tell back so that they hear themself afresh and invent in imagination how they can best be for their client in their next session. (Houston 1990)”
For me the connection and relationship between two of us is really important so I offer a safe, compassionate space where we can be curious about what you do. We'll work together and explore what's going on between your clients, you, me and the wider world.
I have supervised counsellors and people who need supervision for their work or who support others; for example I have supported mental health first aiders, mentors, youth workers and IDVA's (Independent Domestic Violence Advisors). My supervision training has a CYP and adult focus and I still counsel young people as well as adults. I have a particular heart for young people who seem to feel the gap in provision as they reach adulthood.
Although I have worked alongside counsellors who are trained in different modalities, it feels like useful information to say what my background is. I am an integrative counsellor and was trained in both PCA and psychodynamic theory. We used Clarkson's facets as a way to do this and I use these as a basis for my work today.
I also have received CPD in Polyvegal theory and am trauma informed. I incorporate creativity into my work including supervision if that's something you want to explore; I find it can open the way into our unconscious in really amazing ways, for example people drawing their client's as a four legged bird can show us that there is someone else, a stakeholder, who is present in those sessions, or drawing the counsellor as an owl in a tree can lead to a discussion about how different telephone counselling can be.
I can supervise via zoom or face to face. I offer an initial, free, 20 minute zoom call so that we can find out if we're a good fit. My aim is to make supervision as accessible to all as possible.
It currently costs £55 for an hour or £83 for an hour and a half. I do offer a limited number of reduced-fee sessions for those unable to pay the full rate, so please come and talk to me. I still offer supervision to my supervisees if there is a need between sessions and I am available, for example if there is a safeguarding need, an ethical dilemma or if the counsellor needs a bit of support; this is not used often but is there. I don't charge for this at present; I feel that this is an important part of a supervisor's role.
Students
I am passionate about encouraging students and am a tutor. If you want to talk to me about counselling, supervision or mentoring you as you are completing a counselling course, then please do get in touch. I do offer concessionary rates to make this as possible for you as I can; I know that as a student, all of these expenses soon mount up.