Being gripped by supervision – a researcher's story
I have recently written a paper charting the history of my involvement with
research into supervision over the past 12 years. In this lecture I will re-visit
this story to show the development of my understanding and engagement with
research into therapeutic supervision using extracts from interviews with supervisors
and some text from real supervision sessions. It has been an important part
of my own developing understandings of supervision to move on from listening
to supervisors and supervisees talking about their experiences of supervision
to actually recording live supervision for research purposes. A further step
has been to play these recordings back to the supervisors and supervisees involved
to gain a deeper understanding of the moment by moment processes in supervision.
A key thread in all of this work has been what is not said by supervisees in
supervision for whatever reason. We have a developing understanding of what
makes for good supervision but still have further work to do to raise standards
in practice. I will also consider the challenges faced in seeking to use research
to improve supervision training and practice and I will put forward recommendations
for both the training of supervisors and further research.
Supervision in Organisations. Supervisor, supervisee
and their line manager: an impossible working relationship or good ethical
practice?
The majority of supervisors work with at least one supervisee who is employed
by an organisation either in a voluntary or paid capacity. Therefore, supervisors
will find it very difficult to ignore the organisational issues that arise
as part of the supervisory process. They may also feel powerless to help their
supervisee who is entangled in a disabling organisational culture. Yet having
a tri-partite relationship that includes the supervisee's line manager will
enable all parties in that alliance to work towards effecting change within
the organisation.
Therefore, this session will firstly explore the need for a relationship
between supervisor, supervisee and their line manager when working within an
organisational context either as an external or ‚in-house' supervisor. Secondly,
the nature of that relationship will be discussed both in voluntary,
commercial and public service organisations. Thirdly, the dilemmas that
arise from this tripartite relationship will be identified. These dilemmas
centre round issues of confidentiality, professional autonomy, cultural warfare
and adding value to an organisation through the sharing of information. Lastly,
ways of managing these dilemmas will be identified in relation to the
different organisational contexts in which they arise.
Supervising in specialist contexts: Exploring effective supervision of
therapy with children and families, and therapy involving trauma
This masterclass is based on many years of both supervising practitioners
working across different contexts and from various theoretical orientation,
and of training practitioners as supervisors. The workshop will consider the
internal and external dynamics and issues that can create barriers to successful
and fulfilling supervision, and will also consider the opposite: what makes
for an effective supervisory alliance. Consideration will be given to exploring
the supervisory style, the quality of the supervisees' input, and the influence
of external factors. Special attention will be paid to two areas: firstly,
supervising those practising in work where trauma is involved where there may
be particular barriers to effective supervision, and, secondly, to supervising
in the context of supervisees working with children and families. Finally I
will consider how supervisees and supervisors need to be able to mutually reflect
on the process of supervision, give feedback on this, and consider why this
is not always effectively undertaken.
Biographies
William West
Dr William West is a Reader in Counselling Studies at the University of Manchester
where is the Director of the Counselling Studies programme and Director of
the Professional Doctorate in Counselling Studies. William is a Fellow of BACP
and a former Chair of its Research Committee. He is currently deputy chair
and chair-elect of the Culture and Psychotherapy Section of the Society for
Psychotherapy Research (International). He is best known for his research and
publications on spirituality and counselling and has also written extensively
on culture, supervision, and qualitative methodologies. His most recent book, Integrating
traditional healing practices into counselling and psychotherapy, was co-edited
with Roy Moodley.
Sue Copeland
Sue Copeland is a freelance counsellor, supervisor and trainer with over 20
years' experience, working with both individuals and groups of practitioners.
She leads CPD training workshops for counsellors and supervisors that are designed
to enable participants to work creatively to enhance their personal and professional
development. Until September 2005 she was a full time senior lecturer at the
University College of York St. John and course director for the Diploma in
Counselling Supervision. She has researched and written extensively on counselling
supervision and in July 2005 Routledge published her book Counselling supervision
in organisations: professional and ethical dilemmas explored.
Moira Walker
Moira Walker is a registered psychotherapist and Fellow of the BACP and is
a part time Reader in the Institute of Health and Community Studies at Bournemouth University, also practicing as a psychotherapist and supervisor. Currently,
she supervises counsellors working with staff in the NHS; those working in
projects counselling children, young people and families, and also supervises
private practitioners.
She has worked in Universities, the voluntary sector and in health and social
services. She ran supervision courses at the University of Leicester for 18 years and co-authored Questions of supervision in
2004. Her other publications include Supervising practitioners working with
survivors of childhood abuse: counter transference, secondary traumatisation
and terror.
