The importance of supervision

Receiving supervision is an important part of your work as a counsellor/psychotherapist. Checking in with your supervisor on a regular basis can support you personally and benefit you professionally.

While it's not necessary to have just one supervisor, it can be helpful to build a relationship with just one supervisor over a period of time because your supervisor will get to know you and how you work, so they can make more informed comments.

Some benefits of supervision:

Supervision will help with your client work. Explore in detail what might be going on with particular clients. Sometimes an issue might come up that you haven't encountered before. Your supervisor can help you get into the weeds and unravel the knots. This is a great way to learn and grow as a therapist, and your clients will experience the benefits.

Supervision will help you to develop professionally. A supervisor can be a sounding board for reflecting on what you are doing well and where you might like to develop. It's a chance to consider how you'd like to develop professionally - perhaps through further training - or in terms of your business - perhaps by increasing your offering and income.

Supervision can help you personally. Sometimes therapists hit snags that are related to their own material. So, although supervision is not therapy, the supervisor can help you explore how your own story might be affecting you in your work. And sometimes therapist can neglect self-care - your supervisor can help to identify this and work with you to make adjustments.

Ethical accountability. Supervision is part of the ‘support network' that exists in the world of therapy. It is common for therapists to inform clients at the outset of therapy that they have supervision, hence clients can feel assured that their therapist has professional support. Your supervisor serves as a type of quality control, often seeing things you are missing - not judging, but helping to keep the therapist on track in terms of professional standards.

Supervisors at Synergie

More supervisors will be added to this list.

Mike Brooks

Mike writes: "I have been in private practice as a psychotherapist since 2016. I have a Certificate in Supervision from Re-Vision, London, and I'm currently working towards their Supervision Diploma, which means I'm happy to charge a half-price fee for our first five sessions of supervision.

"As an integrative therapist, I can offer supervision in your modality. I can also offer ideas to help broaden your way of working. My foundational training was person-centred. I've gone on to specialise in working relationally, with a focus on psychodynamic theory, parts work (such as subpersonalities) and trauma. My goal is to support you in your client work and in your well-being as a therapist. I can also help if you would like to build your private practice."

For more information, visit www.mikebrookstherapy.co.uk or contact Synergie.