More about how I work
Therapeutic Supervision
“Working with tension and distress, exploring meaning and impact, making discoveries and working toward change. ‘Therapeutic Supervision’ is the process of reflection that attends to and works with the multi-dimensions and layers of our work/life experiences.”
I have over 30 years practice experience in working with interpersonal trauma and the impact of violence, in particular but not exclusive to the fields of sexual assault (child sexual abuse) and family violence.
My practice is informed by knowledges and ideas in Developmental Trauma Theory (Perry), neuroscience and somatic therapies (Van der Kolk); working with power and privilege, a gendered and intersectional analysis to understanding violence, facilitating a relational inquiry process (Bird), with an overarching commitment to Social Justice.
I believe in the right of ‘those working with trauma and violence’ to receive; effective, intentional, life giving supervision, through the facilitation of a process that fosters professional self determination.
The provision of effective ‘therapeutic supervision’ for practitioners, impacts upon the retention of critical knowledge, mastering skills, and professional wisdom in the field. This supervision contributes to minimising staff stress (and distress) turnover and burn out, and increases quality practice and practitioners connection to purpose and meaning in their working lives.
Although demanding, being a professional in the ‘helping/social change/human services professions’, can be extremely rewarding, offering a sense of purpose and satisfaction, making a difference and contributing to meaningful social change.
People drawn to this work often come with a vulnerability to placing their own wellbeing requirements aside in order to meet the requirements of the role.
With quality therapeutic supervision, practitioners have the opportunity to discover how to navigate these competing demands; sustaining and supporting themselves, while shaping teams and workplaces to meet their right to safe professional spaces in which they can thrive.
Facilitating sessions with individual practitioners and with teams.
Work with individual practitioners
I have more recently been drawn to describing these sessions as ‘therapeutic Supervision’. This term better describes the opportunities this facilitation provides, to make meaningful connections and desired changes in one’s work life.
The ‘personal is professional’, and working in the trauma field, offers unique experiences and challenges, which both connect with our own life stories and offers challenges to our personal world view.
Working with tension and distress, exploring meaning and impact, making discoveries and working toward change, are all features of a therapeutic space.
For professional ‘Supervision’ to be effective, I believe it demands attending to the multi dimensions of our work life experience - it requires the facilitation to match and pay attention to this depth and complexity. This facilitation process being more accurately described as - therapeutic supervision.
At the heart of the work is the (professional) person, who through the facilitation of a discovery process, is able to explore the nature and quality of their work.
This is facilitated through the exploration of some of the following themes;
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The congruence between stated ‘intention/values’ and chosen ‘practices/interventions’.
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An awareness of how the work is ‘meeting’ ones own story, particularly in relation to historical or current trauma/abuse, or related themes such as powerlessness or overwhelm.
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Identifying any effects/impacts and working to attend to these effectively.
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Identification of particular needs in relation to psychological/emotional safety and how this may inform their work.
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Attention to political and cultural context which shape clients’ and our own responses, in particular in relation to; hope/ability for change/difference.
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Identifying tension/discomfort in the work, applying a ‘no fault’ discovery process to practice and change ideas
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Connection and disconnection - navigating a path that allows the practitioner to be present in their work life, while practicing protective strategies (particular to the practitioner, discovered through the sessions)
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Identifying unhelpful work life patterns which undermine capacity and wellness and exploring new ways forward - this may include examining and challenging a team or work culture that supports or undermines wellbeing.
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Contextually exploring any workplace or relationship challenges.
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Discernment of fit with the practitioners life-work aims, and those of their organisation
Groups and Teams
The group process is designed to create a ‘safe enough space’, which invites participation from all group members. The experience of ‘safety’ will be different for each participant, and is believed to be an ongoing conversation. The sessions have the overall aim of supporting participants to further develop their
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Awareness of self,
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maintain a sense of balance (internally and externally) and
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seek and maintain connection at work.
A process described as ‘relational inquiry’ combined with an ‘outsider witness’ style structure, is utilised to facilitate the ‘no fault’ discovery desired. In other words, we want to talk about what’s being noticed in the way of tension or impact, and explore what fits as a helpful response and way forward. This way forward can be tested and revised as we discover what has particular use and value to the people present.
A further effect of group sessions can be a greater awareness of ‘the others’ experience, fostering more effective support and mutual care of each other in a team or work setting.
If the sessions are ongoing, as the facilitator, I am also responsible for holding the memory of the group, to enable there to be a building on shared understandings and discoveries, made from session to session over time.
Through exploring the nature and impact of the work, the group can identify how this connects to their values and sense of purpose. Connections may also be made with personal stories of trauma. Due to this being a ‘work space’ and there being limits to confidentiality, I will support those making these connections to explore this further in an individually focussed setting.
Connecting around these work stories can assist to both mitigate against vicarious trauma and build a shared resilience in the work.
Group explorations, can offer meaningful support, when the nature of the work compels a highlighting and grappling with the darker side of humanity, which can impact our world view and general sense of safety. Connecting with others can reduce the isolation created by encountering aspects of human behaviour that many others prefer to deny or avoid.
At times, there may be a shared response to the trauma material or story. Intentional and creative exploring of this shared experience can create opportunities for ‘witnessing’ and connection, in both reviewing the quality of the work, as well as navigating its meaning and impact.
Identifying the effects of being so close to stories dominated by interpersonal violence and trauma, can create opportunities to then explore practices which may better support the practitioners/team, to feel psychologically and emotionally safe to sustain and develop in their work roles.
These practices will be both particular to individuals, to the team, and specific to the nature of the work being undertaken.
As a group and as individual members, practitioners will be given the opportunity to discover their own unique and safest path though what can be challenging and at times distressing work/life experiences.