Sandra McKeever

I offer supervision to counsellors and psychotherapists using an integrative approach, with a particular focus on the humanistic and transpersonal. I have supervised counsellors for over ten years, both in my private practice and within training settings where I have supported students through all aspects of their training. I therefore have a good understanding of the requirements of many training organisations, and the demands that training places on individuals. I have attended training workshops with Robin Shohet and with CSTD (founded by Peter Hawkins) in Bath, and with Derby University.

Although my focus is on supporting the supervisee to work safely and ethically with their clients, I also see my role as supporting the supervisee to achieve their own potential within the profession. To do this I recognise the importance of the supervisory relationship  and  offer a safe, nurturing, non judgemental space, allowing supervisees to be open and honest in all the material they bring to these session. 

I only offer face to face work, and only offer support for those working with adults.  I do not offer support for those working online. 

The supervisory model I base most of my work on, is the Hawkins and Shohet Seven Eyed model of Supervision, but  I also draw on the Inskipp/Procter model that focuses on the 'Normative, Formative, Restorative' functions of supervision. These together allow a holistic overview of the dynamics in supervision, whilst working in the best interests of both client and therapist.  

In my own practice I work with person centred theory at the core of my practice, but work integratively, primarily within the humanistic field, but with a good understanding of the transpersonal.

I have considerable experience within the profession and I am able to bring that knowledge and understanding to the supervisory relationship. Not only have I considerable experience of private practice, having ran my own practice for almost twenty years, but I have worked in an FE College with young people and adults, worked in a GP practice, and worked in an agency that specialized in eating disorders and trained with CRUSE bereavement care.

Alongside my client work, I have worked as a counselling trainer delivering all aspects of training, from basic introductory counselling skills, through to Foundation Degree Level. I have also worked for one of the principal awarding bodies, as qualification lead on the qualifying practioner level qualification, and have worked for professional standards at the BACP.

I have extensive CPD including a post qualifying training in Somatic therapy for PTSD and trauma with Babette Rothschild, and have attended further training with Dr Janine Fisher and Christiane Sanderson, in understanding narcisstic abuse, domestic abuse, working with survivors of child sexual abuse, traumatic attachment, borderline personality disorder and structured disassociation and working with boarding school survivors. I also  attend conferences, read widely and continue to write and research.  I have written articles and I am one of the authors of  a training manual for counselling students.

The first session is £30 and lasts one hour.  It is an introductory space for both of us to explore what it is you want and need from supervision, and for me to evaluate whether I can meet those requirements, and that I am 'good fit' for you and your practice at this time.  As with therapy, the relationship is the key to us successfully working together, and both of us need to feel that potential is there.

Should we decide we would like to work together I will take some details and I will also talk through the contract.  However, there is no requirement to make a decision immediately, although I cannot keep a place open for more than one week. 

I see my role as a supervisor as to assist therapists in developing their particular skills and abilities in a safe and ethical way, allowing them to offer the best of themselves to their clients. Supervision is a space in which we, as therapists, need to be able to freely off load, explore our own and our clients experiences in a safe, non judgemental space, and to be offered appropriate guidance and support when needed. Supervision is also about monitoring limits of proficiency and monitoring whether we are going beyond our skills and understanding, or possibly not recognising that we are capable of more. 

I aim to bring all of my experience in the profession to these sessions, to share the knowledge and understanding I have, to help my supervisees develop into strong, competent and ethical therapists and ultimately to be a place of support in what at times can be challenging and difficult, but always rewarding, work.

 I am a senior accredited counsellor, psychotherapist, and counselling trainer with many years of experience in all areas. 

Counselling and Psychotherapy can be helpful at many times in our lives, whether we are dealing with major life changes, feeling mentally or emotionally unwell, struggling with aspects of our personality, or just feeling dissatisfied with life and ourselves. As a counsellor I am trained to listen empathically and non-judgmentally and to assist you in finding the answers and solutions to whatever is troubling you within a confidential and non judgemental setting. However, counselling and psychotherapy can also be used to help us understand who we are, why we are as we are and to develop more fully into the person we have the potential to be and therefore does not just have to be for the times we are struggling in life. Counselling and psychotherapy can help people discuss their problems honestly and openly and in so doing, begin to understand how they can move through those problems and towards fulfilling their potential in all areas of their life. There are many models of counselling and psychotherapy and I work integratively with Person Centred Theory at the core of my practice. This puts the client at the centre of the process, and recognises that they are the expert on themselves and empowers them to find their own answers. However, I also have training and experience in working in other theoretical models and  as a result I am able to include other ways of working and to work in a way that is most appropriate for each individual client and their particular issues.

I work with individuals both long and short term.

Once the initial assessment session has taken place, we will arrange a regular time for you to attend therapy, which will be the same time every week and sessions will last one hour.  

Please be aware I do not offer any online work - all sessions take place in my therapy room in Glastonbury. 

The initial session is free which lasts up to 45 minutes.  This is an opportunity for us to meet and discuss what it is you need from therapy, and to see whether I am someone you feel you can work with and for me to assess whether  your needs are something I feel I can meet.  It is also an opportunity to talk through the working contract and take personal information should you be interested in moving forward in working with me.