SERVICES
Clinical Supervision For Counsellors
What is Clinical supervision for counsellors?
Clinical supervision for counsellors happens within a contractual, professional relationship. It is designed to specifically meet your learning needs and stage of development as a counsellor in order to meet industry standards.
Clinical supervision for counsellors provides a structured, professional relationship which develops your skills, supports your learning and improves client outcomes.
Clients and counsellors benefit from the upward level of accountability from counsellor to supervisor and the counselling profession .
Choose a PACFA Accredited Supervisor who can support and encourage you in your practice.
How to choose a Clinical supervisor
What are you looking for in a Clinical supervisor? How do you best learn? What kind of experience are you looking for in your supervisor that could add value to your practice?
What other issues are important to you, such as availability face-to-face, phone or online? Remember to check that your supervisor is accredited as a Clinical supervisor by your professional association.
To meet industry training standards, Clinical supervisors must be Clinical Members of PACFA for a minimum of 5 years and have completed specific supervisor training.
They must have at least two years’ supervised Clinical supervision experience before being registered.
In addition to this, Supervisors have ongoing Supervision on their supervision practice. As well as separate professional development on counselling supervision.
It is best to choose a supervisor who is more experienced than you, and can meet your specific developmental, learning and supervision needs.
Clinical supervision should be a satisfying experience, so make sure you and your supervisor are a good fit. Most importantly, ensure that you have a good rapport.
About me as a supervisor
As a PACFA Accredited Supervisor, I have the necessary training and skills in order to help you as a supervisee.
I am also a practicing counsellor with twelve years experience working in organisations and private practice.
I have a background in education which spans many years and I have also taught counselling at ACAP now for five years. Additionally, my knowledge and practice are current, and I willingly share this with my supervisees.
I understand the specific learning and developmental needs of early-career counsellors and as a result, love working with this group.
My belief is that supervision should support, teach, challenge and grow us as practitioners and people.
How important is Clinical Supervision for counsellors?
Clinical supervision is sometimes described as the most important component of professional practice (Geldard & Geldard, 2013).
This is because it provides time to stop and reflect, and to run things by a more experienced practitioner. Consequently, it can provide assurance and guidance, challenge and growth.
We all need supervision. As a result of professional dialogue with a supportive, more experienced practitioner you will increase your knowledge and skills in a safe learning environment. Furthermore, your clients will benefit and have improved outcomes.
What is the role of Clinical supervision for counsellors?
Clinical supervision is a contracted relationship with agreed roles and responsibilities.
The role of the Clinical supervisor is to create a safe learning environment and to help you identify your learning needs.
Sometimes I may take the role of a coach, a mentor, or a colleague, depending on what is most helpful. I am flexible in my approach and draw from my experience as a practitioner and educator.
Supervision typically has an educative, supportive and administrative function to ensure accountability to your clients and to the profession of counselling.
Clinical supervision includes confidentiality and informed consent when working with client issues. It is based on professional codes of ethics.
Clinical supervision also has an evaluative function, which we will address through self-review of your own strengths and areas for development. Periodic evaluation of your supervision experience will be conducted.
The supervision relationship
The supervision relationship is central to achieving positive outcomes in supervision (Carroll, 1996). It is a learning relationship with a clear purpose and goals. Together, we will form a collaborative working alliance that is responsive to your needs.
The supervision process
Beginning counsellors value structure and direction, technical support and the development of skills (Bernard & Goodyear, 2002; Lochner & Melchert, 1999). The process of supervision is dynamic and grows and changes as you develop in your practice.
Developmental models of supervision match the tasks and approach of the supervisor to the supervisee’s stage of development. The most widely used developmental model is the Integrated Development Model (IDM) (Stoltenberg, Delworth & McNeil, 1998). This provides a framework for planning effective supervision experiences.
During supervision we may engage in role-plays, case consultation, reflective enquiry and occasional recorded/video taped sessions.
Fees and arrangements
Clinical supervision for counsellors is $130 for an hour session. A discount is available for small group sessions if you have a group of colleagues who are interested. Linda provides a tailored professional service based on your needs and interests.
Contact Linda Magson, Clinical counselling supervisor, to find out more about Clinical Supervision.
Disclaimer: The information on these pages is not intended as advice, or for diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your General Practitioner if you are concerned about your mental health.