Information on Supervision

Information on Supervision

Supervision is essential for effective therapy. Most professional therapists are bound by a code of Ethics and Practice to monitor their therapy through ongoing supervision.

What is supervision?

Supervision is a formal arrangement for therapists to discuss their work regularly with someone who is experienced in therapy and supervision. The task is to work together to ensure and develop the efficacy of the therapist relationship. The agenda will be the therapy work and feeling about that work, together with the supervisor’s reactions, comments and confrontations. Thus supervision is a process to maintain adequate standards of therapy, and a method of consultancy to widen the horizons of an experienced practitioner.

In choosing a supervisor, therapists need to assess their position on a scale from newly qualified to very experienced, to decide the main focus of the therapy work undertaken, individuals, couples, families, groups, etc., and to take into account their own training, philosophy and methods. The setting for therapy may be an important factor. Agencies and institutions may have their own criteria for supervision and provide supervisors from within the organisation. Where outside supervision is more appropriate considerable discussion and negotiation may be needed to arrange time away from work, financial support and assurance of confidentiality. Private practitioners must arrange their own supervision.